Two men sacked for fighting at work told an employment tribunal they were surprised to lose their jobs.

Tim Weedon and Steve Harris claimed they did not believe they would be dismissed following the violent incident on the factory floor at the Parker Pen Company in Newhaven.

Mr Weedon, from Seaford, and Mr Harris, from Crawley, who both worked for the company for more than 20 years, say they should have been given another chance and are now claiming compensation for unfair dismissal.

The tribunal heard yesterday how trouble broke out in October last year after Mr Harris took offence at a remark written by Mr Weedon in a comment book relating to the number of components made one shift.

The two men clashed and ended up wrestling on the ground. Punches were thrown and hot coffee was spilt, the hearing was told.

Mr Weedon reported the fight to his manager and claimed he acted in self-defence. Mr Harris denied being the aggressor.

After an investigation they were both dismissed.

The Brighton tribunal heard when Mr Harris was involved in a violent incident in 1993 another member of staff ended up going to hospital for treatment. Mr Harris kept his job but was given a warning.

Both men claim they were unaware the company had changed its policy towards violence at work and they did not realise their jobs were at risk.

Mr Weedon told the second day of the hearing the company should have shown leniency.

He said: "I would not have reported the incident if I had known the company's change in policy meant I would be dismissed."

He said he saw red due to a combination of the hot coffee and Mr Harris' aggression. He said: "Regrettably I snapped and lashed out."

Mr Harris said he believed he got away lightly with a warning in 1993 but he still believes he should have been given another warning instead of the sack for the latest fight.

He said he was the victim when violence started. He said: "I felt a barrage of punches to the back of my head and I found myself on the floor."

The two men sat next to each other during the hearing but waited in separate rooms during breaks in the proceedings.

The company denies being unfair. It told the tribunal the men were sacked because their behaviour was unacceptable and could be dangerous close to machinery.

The hearing continues.