Car worker David Jewers is all shook up after being forced out of his job for singing Elvis songs on the production line.

Like thousands of fans, Nissan worker David found his own way of marking the 25th anniversary the King's death last summer.

The part-time club singer, who covers Elvis songs on the North-East club circuit, sang along when his hits were piped to factory workers at Nissan's plant in Sunderland.

But the 37-year-old claims his production line performance sparked bullying from a manager.

The boss, furious that he wouldn't stop, launched into a volley of foul- mouthed abuse.

David claims it led to a day of bullying which eventually drove him to explode and yell his own abuse back.

The outburst led to his dismissal and David is now taking the Japanese giant to an employment tribunal.

He had just returned to the factory after a period off work on sick leave when the Elvis saga started.

David said he could not comment ahead of the tribunal hearing, but his father-in-law Alec McFadden, a trade union leader, spoke on his behalf.

Mr McFadden, 55, said: "David's fellow workers had heard the way he was spoken to and he felt intimidated, humiliated and patronised.

"He is a gentle man, who had been suffering dreadfully with depression because of the stress and pressure of the production line and this kind of humiliation was too much for him to cope with.

"He was simply singing along to the music played by the company for the staff and like thousands of others was enjoying the Elvis coverage on the anniversary of his death."

It is claimed David suffered all day at the hands of the manager before he eventually retaliated and verbally abused his superior. He was suspended by Nissan and then sacked.

"David is not an agressive man but he was pushed into his reaction. He was only as forceful as his manager had been and yet now he is paying the price," said Mr McFadden.

"He lost his £26,000-a-year job and his family is having to exist on benefits, despite David's unblemished record of 13 years with Nissan before the incident."

Now David, of Low Fell, Gateshead, is preparing to take Nissan to court over the saga and is claiming unfair dismissal.

A spokesman from Nissan said: "Nissan has nothing to say in advance of the case." .