The staff of the Keith Laundry, Morayshire has won compensation after being laid off just a few hours before the laundry closed in November 2001.

On June 25 this year, an employment tribunal awarded them a total of almost £15,000, and this is expected to be paid out of state funds.

The tribunal ruled that staff were laid off with no notice, no redundancy settlement, no lieu pay, no final week’s pay and no holiday pay.

The tribunal also heard evidence that the laundry owned £30,000 in rent and rates to local Moray Council and about £20,000 more to the Inland Revenue.