The steward of one of Britain's most exclusive golf clubs faces losing his job and home - after wearing a red jumper to work.

Trevor Proctor, his wife and their two daughters are due to be kicked out of their tied four-bedroom cottage on the Earl of March's Goodwood estate next month.

The row began in January when Trevor, who has worked at Goodwood Golf Club near Chichester for seven years, was spotted in the rogue sweater by a pernickety player.

He says he put it on because the heating had broken down. But the secretary of the £800-a-year Club was unimpressed.

She wrote to Tim Morton of club caterers Morton's Fork, which employed Trevor, saying: "This is bizarre. He understands the standards of dress expected."

Trevor was suspended from his £18,000-a-year post in February but re-instated the following month after an inquiry which ruled the complaint was "ridiculous."

But the Club, which is run by land-owners Goodwood Estates, over-ruled the decision and has since banned Trevor from the clubhouse.

He said: "I'm worried sick. It's not just my job, it's our home. My daughters go to school nearby and all their friends are in the area.

"It all seems so strange, I can't understand it. I worked here for seven years without any problem."

The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) has taken up his case and is planning on taking Goodwood to an industrial tribunal.

It believes the estate has ambitions to redevelop Mr Trevor's tied cottage as part of sweeping improvements and is using the 'wrong jumper' as an excuse.

A spokesman said: "We've had landowners hound people out before, but never for something as trifling as this. We'll fight it all the way."

Trevor said: "The earl is a nice guy but he's also a business man. I'm not sure he knows about this. Hopefully it will get back to him soon."

No-one from Goodwood House was available for comment at the weekend.