A council boss who claims she was the victim of sexual discrimination was likened to "a bag lady shuffling along the corridors of power".

Staff made personal and hurtful comments about Worthing chief executive Sheryl Grady's appearance, an employment tribunal in Brighton heard yesterday.

Former Liberal Democrat council leader Sheila Player told the tribunal people complained that Miss Grady continually wore the same clothes and her hair was unkempt.

Miss Grady, 47, is taking action against the council and Miss Player, claiming she was left ill by sexist treatment at work.

Miss Player, who lost her council seat at June's elections, admitted she might have criticised Miss Grady and the pair did not always see eye to eye but she denies sex discrimination.

She told the tribunal she might possibly have referred to Miss Grady, who lives in Hove, as "Goldilocks".

Miss Player said: "I was aware of the nickname, which had been given by an ex-councillor.

"I cannot state on oath that I have never referred to the chief executive as Goldilocks, given that I heard it used on many occasions.

"I have never heard the term being used in an overtly derogatory sense.

"If I have ever caused offence by ever using nicknames, I sincerely apologise."

Referring to comments made by other staff about Miss Grady's appearance, she said: "They were on the subject of Worthing Borough Council being a laughing stock and were, in my opinion, very personal against the chief executive and plainly likely to be hurtful at the very least."

She is also accused of asking Miss Grady's assistant to subtly suggest her boss smartened up her appearance at work.

Miss Player said: "It was a sensitive situation and I thought, because they were friends, that it was the best and kindest way of doing it.

"I do not accept that I was undermining Miss Grady."

Miss Grady went on sick leave from her £80-000-a-year job last December.

Miss Player denied claims she subjected her to persistent and unwarranted criticism when they worked together.

She said Miss Grady had a tendency to take professional criticism too personally.

She said: "While of course there were issues upon which we disagreed, I can say that at absolutely no time have any of my actions been motivated by the chief executive's gender."

The council had launched disciplinary action against Miss Grady when she made her claim for sex discrimination in April.

A member of staff had accused Miss Grady of bullying, harassment, oppressive management and creating a blame culture at work.

Miss Player said she also had misgivings about the chief executive's management style and suspected a political bias towards the Conservative group.

Referring to the sexual discrimination claims, Miss Player said: "It appears to me that the allegations were only mooted once the council resolved to refer the complaints (against Miss Grady)."

She denied allegations the council under her leadership was institutionally sexist, citing a number of women in senior council posts.

She also refuted a claim she told Miss Grady in a phone conversation that the chief executive's job should be held by a man.

Miss Player added: "Such an assertion would be contrary to my fundamental principles and beliefs."

Claims that the Liberal Democrat group did not want Miss Grady appointed chief executive were also denied.

Miss Player said: "We had serious concerns that the job was not being advertised externally but that has no personal bearing on Sheryl or her gender."

Miss Player allegedly told fellow councillors at a party that she would "frogmarch" Miss Grady out of the town hall when she was leader of the council.

She said: "I may have indicated something similar due to utter frustration with a particular set of circumstances at the time."

She said the comments were made privately.

Miss Player denied she had an agenda to "get rid of" Miss Grady and was encouraging members of staff to complain against her.

But she said: "I did receive numerous comments regarding the chief executive from both staff and external representatives regarding her image and lack of ambassadorial role."

Referring to two council meetings when she was alleged to have acted aggressively to Miss Grady, Miss Player admitted the pair had exchanged heated words but she said they were over professional and not personal issues.

She said: "I may have been angry over something Miss Grady had done but her tone matched mine."

Miss Player also denied suggesting Miss Grady and the then Tory leader Steven Waight should "get together".

She said: "It would be absurd of me as a councillor to make such a suggestion, bearing in mind Coun Waight was the leader of the opposition and both were married."

Miss Player concluded: "Politics in local government can be a rough ride for senior management but I can categorically assure the tribunal that whatever the ups and downs of my relationship with Sheryl, it has never been influenced by sexual discrimination and I am hurt and saddened that this situation has arisen."

Referring to the Liberal Democrat group's failure to stand and clap when Miss Grady was appointed chief executive, Miss Player said it was an issue for individual councillors and not a block decision.

Worthing Borough Council also denies sexual discrimination.

The tribunal hearing is expected to last until Friday.

Council disciplinary proceedings against Miss Grady are also continuing.