A nightclub manager has won thousands of pounds from her former employers after builders raised her desk - by six inches.

Jeanette Hobden, who is 5ft 6in, claimed she was left unable to work at the high-rise terminal.

At first she stacked up three cardboard boxes and propped her computer keyboard on top.

But in frustration, Mrs Hobden, 57, threw in the towel and took her employers of 15 years to a tribunal.

The DIY desk debacle was the last in a string of complaints which had dogged her for years at the club in West Street, Brighton, now Creation.

She had also developed "tennis elbow" after being made to swing huge bags of loose change into a poorly-designed safe.

The mother of two won her case for constructive dismissal and was last night celebrating after being awarded almost £24,000 from owners First Leisure after the company's appeal was thrown out.

Mrs Hobden, of Connell Drive, Woodingdean, Brighton, said: "It's been a complete nightmare.

"When I think of how I gave 15 years' loyal service to that place, the way I was treated was appalling.

"It took so long to get head office to listen to any of my concerns and even when I won my case in March they dragged it out longer by lodging an appeal."

Mrs Hobden started working as an administration manager at the club in February 1987, when it was the Pink Coconut.

It later changed its name to the Paradox and was extended in 1997 to incorporate a new venue called the Barcelona Club.

That was when Mrs Hobden started experiencing problems because she had to haul more bags of cash into the back office and try to fit them into a small safe.

She said: "I had to bring in about 11 bags full of coins and to try to fit them in I had to swing them over my head."

Mrs Hobden developed tennis elbow in both arms which still causes her acute pain.

But it took two years of complaints to head office by both her and the club's general manager before any action was taken.

The two clubs were closed for refurbishment early last year before reopening as Creation but when Mrs Hobden returned to work, she found her work surface was 6in higher.

She said: "I just couldn't work properly. I was forced to get three big boxes, put them on the floor in front of my worktop and rest my keyboard on them."

First Leisure claimed the builders were to blame but the tribunal decided the firm bore responsibility.

The tribunal panel ruled the firm's response to her concerns was "wholly inadequate".

Mrs Hobden was helped by staff at Brighton and Hove Citizens' Advice Bureau and is donating £600 to them.

First Leisure declined to comment.