A WARRINGTON businessman has been branded 'heartless' after he sacked a father while he was at his desperately ill son's bedside.

Devastated dad David Bottomley, of Halifax, West Yorkshire, was keeping vigil at St James Hospital in Leeds where his son, Philip, was battling leukaemia and meningitis.

David received a phone call from his boss Andrew Cornes, of Oughtrington-based golfing supplier Acorn Equipment, to say that he needed to pick up the company van David used.

"This was nothing unusual," said David, "as when I was on holiday he used to come and collect the van.

"He wanted to meet me outside and then he told me he wanted the keys and my mobile phone. That was the surprise, because he had never asked for the phone before.

"When I asked him what I was going to do without it, he said this other guy needed it and that he would have to let me go anyway.

"There was no warning that he was going to sack me and we had got along really well until then. It was not justified and it was so heartless, he just didn't think."

Eight-year-old Philip is now at home recovering from his meningitis, but there are fears that it may recur. He is still fighting his leukaemia and has to endure regular hospital treatment.

David says that his main priority now is his son's health.

"I don't want to speak to Andrew," he said, "I just want to close this chapter."

No-one from Acorn Equipment was available for comment as the GUARDIAN went to press.

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