A tribunal for a union worker sacked from Whipps Cross Hospital after 26 years over criminal convictions has been adjourned.

Charlotte Monro, who worked as a moving and handling coordinator at the Leytonstone hospital, was dismissed in 2013.

The tribunal began on Monday and was expected to be finished by today at Anchorage House, in Clove Crescent, Poplar.

But the decision was made yesterday to adjourn the tribunal until March as the process was taking longer than expected.

In July 2013, Barts Health Trust suspended Ms Monroe after saying it had discovered "undisclosed prison sentences" relating to her protests in the past.

However Ms Munro, chairwoman of Unison’s Waltham Forest health branch, claims the dismissal was due to her union work.

She claims disciplinary action began when she expressed concerns about changes to stroke services at a council meeting.

Barts Health denies the claim.

The tribunal will start again on March 13, with a final decision expected the following Monday.