A Macedonian-born woman was subjected to racist comments about Eastern Europeans before being accused of poor performance and fired from her job, a tribunal heard.

Viloeta Belogastka is taking her former bosses at Friday Ad Ltd, based in Sayers Common, Hassocks, to an employment tribunal along with her former line manager Alex Langley, accusing them of race and sex discrimination after she was sacked as marketing operations manager for the free publication last November.

Giving evidence at the hearing in St James House, New England Street, Brighton, yesterday, Miss Belogastka, 32, of Wilbury Avenue, Hove, revealed she had been at the company for two months when Mr Langley arrived as her boss in September.

Within days of starting, the tribunal heard he made sexist remarks about women during a meeting.

The tribunal heard how Miss Belogastka felt increasingly marginalised.

Andrew Maynard, representing Miss Belogastka, said she was called to a meeting in November last year.

He accused Friday Ad and Mr Langley of concocting a scenario in which they dismissed Miss Belogastka for her behaviour.

He said: "She considers the reason for her dismissal was manufactured and was prompted by racism and sexism."

Tribunal chairman Andrew Hogarth heard allegations about how Miss Belogastka was often left out of meetings, was treated like a secretary and criticised for her work.

Miss Belogastka claimed Mr Langley repeatedly commented on her funny accent and remarked on how the majority of Eastern European workers in Brighton appeared to earn as much as British people.

It was during a weekly meeting with her boss last October when Miss Belogastka alleges he accused her of removing documents from his desk and said she was not suitable for the job.

Miss Belogastka said Mr Langley told her that she was not the appropriate person for the job or qualified for the role.

She said: "He said what he needed was someone like him, with his skills and qualifications but not as good as him and he continued to say that he thought I was overpaid for an Eastern European and that he would have to consider my salary."

The pair met with their department boss in November after Miss Belogastka reported Mr Langley's criticisms of her work.

Mr Langley and Friday Ad claim she became argumentative and when Miss Belogastka returned to work from holiday she was suspended.

She was fired at a disciplinary hearing three days later when Mr Langley alleged her behaviour during their previous meeting was unacceptable.

Giving evidence, Mr Langley, from Hove, denied making racist and sexist comments.

He said: "I felt the claimant didn't like me. I was not sure why.

"I thought it might be because I was younger and on occasion I did ask her to repeat herself if I didn't understand, as she did with me."

The tribunal continues.