A Hampshire railway worker who claimed he was sacked for removing a shopping trolley thrown on to the track will take his case for unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal today.

Ian Faletto alleges he was sacked after 27 years' service by South West Trains (SWT) for removing the trolley at Lymington railway station where he was ticket office clerk.

He said he contacted the signalman to turn off the power and then removed the trolley to prevent an accident.

SWT said Mr Faletto was sacked in March for what it described as a ''serious breach of health and safety''.

He was suspended and then sacked following a disciplinary hearing.

It is believed a manager saw the incident on CCTV and found out the electricity had not been switched off when Mr Faletto went on to the line in the early morning.

The sacking of Mr Faletto, 49, of Durley Crescent, Totton, Hampshire, provoked widespread publicity, with an 8,400-name petition calling for the award-winning employee to be given his job back.

The petition was presented to Parliament by New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne.