CLAIMS that Antiques Roadshow personality Eric Knowles made sexist comments to a colleague at leading auction house Bonhams have been withdrawn.

Mr Knowles, who was born and went to school in Nelson, had denied the allegations by fellow worker Jane Brown, who was seeking claims of unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination against the firm.

Bonhams, the auction house, has accepted that it unfairly dismissed the pottery expert Ms Brown, 31, in January, and paid her undisclosed compensation.

She in turn withdrew a claim of sexual discrimination due before a tribunal, involving Mr Knowles, one of Bonhams directors.

Mr Knowles went to Nelson Secondary Technical School before working as an engineer at Pioneer Western, Barrowford, before he was made redundant. He joined Bonhams in 1976 as a porter and rose through the company ranks.

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