Lynn Tracey, an administrative worker at the Citizen's Advice Bureau for 20 years, told an employment tribunal that she was forced to quit her job because she was victimised by manager Kath Fysh.

She claimed her boss made her feel "worthless", on one occasion reducing her to tears in the reception area where visitors could overhear.

The Sheffield tribunal will rule at a later date on her complaint of constructive dismissal against the bureau, following a two-day hearing last week.

Among grievances outlined by Mrs Tracey, of Coach House Drive, Cusworth, were claims that she had struggled to get time off work following the sudden death of her sister last August.

Four months on, when she made another request for emergency time-off, she claimed Ms Fysh devastated her by making a "contemptible" reference to the tragedy.

"She stated that if she were to add up all my one-offs, these had contributed to the disruption of the bureau for the few months before," she told the hearing.

On a separate occasion, Mrs Tracey alleged Ms Fysh was "very, very aggressive" when she accused her of not completing some work during an audit.

Former colleague Carol Webb, of Mayfield Crescent, Rossington, recounted hearing Ms Fysh swearing at a distraught Mrs Tracey and being "abusive".

"I was very aware that I was in the main reception and the window was open and people could come in at the time and hear what was going on.

"I didn't know what to do with myself because I felt so extremely sorry for Lynn. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want anything turned on me."

Ms Fysh expressed shock at the allegations and said she had always been fair and considerate with Mrs Tracey, believing arrangements made after Mrs Tracey's sister's death to also have been fair.

She said she had been "frustrated and exasperated" in the exchange over the audit work but denied swearing or being abusive.

She added later: "I believe Lynne felt devastated when her sister died and I believe that she thought she should have had more, and a different sort, of support from the bureau and from me in particular.

"So anything that was said after that in criticism, she was seeing it in the context of somebody who failed her."

An internal investigation was carried out into Mrs Tracey's resignation last December when trustees dismissed the allegations.

The tribunal panel will meet to rule on the claim on November 3 after written submissions from both parties.