A CLEANER who failed in a bid to sue one of the North-East's biggest firms over an accident last night hit out at his treatment.

Michael Dixon, 59, was forced to quit his job with Arriva when he fell and suffered leg injuries at its bus depot in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Mr Dixon, who says the resulting stress led to a heart condition, took Arriva to court for damages, and said they had not done enough to prevent his accident.

But Judge Paul Watson, at Teesside Crown Court, ruled the company had no case to answer.

Last night Mr Dixon, of Wear View, Byers Green, near Spennymoor, County Durham, said: "I feel very angry and betrayed and I am just having to live from day- to-day because of what happened.

"Even now I am in an awful lot of pain with my leg and require full-time care because I cannot get around."

Mr Dixon hurt his leg on April 30, 2001, and was signed off. He was deemed to be unfit to work with his contract being terminated on May 25, 2002.

Mr Dixon said he slipped on a puddle of oil, diesel and water as he attempted to step over a guide rail in the area where buses were washed.

He claimed Arriva should have ensured that buses were washed away from where they were refuelled and that more cleaners should have been employed and better drainage put in place.

Arriva said that Mr Dixon had in fact tripped over the guide rail and part of Mr Dixon's job was to attend to any potential hazards and he had not reported anything.

Julie Jobling, a spokeswoman for Arriva, said: "We acknowledge the court's decision and have nothing further to add."