A STREET cleaner with learning difficulties who lost his job is thrilled to be going back to work on Monday after a successful appeal against his redundancy.

James Willson, 31, who worked in Salisbury city centre for seven years, emptying bins, tidying up and keeping streets clean, was left devastated when he was told at the end of October he was being made redundant, and was given one week's notice.

His company, The Landscape Group (TLG) which are contractors for Wiltshire Council, blamed local authority budget cuts.

The move provoked a strong reaction among Journal readers with many recalling him as always friendly, helpful, cheerful and hard working.

James' stepdad Mick Brown appealed the decision saying the methodology and criteria used to select those for redundancy was too rigid and had left James, who has dyspraxia at a major disadvantage.

Now following a review, TLG has informed James' family the appeal was successful.

Mr Brown said: "All the family are over the moon at the result.

"James was so relieved and exited at the prospect of going back to work.

"We would like to thank The Landscape Group for the sensitive way in which they carried the appeal.

"The appeal was conducted in a relaxed and supportive way, allowing a full presentation of the mitigating facts.

“They also demonstrated a very professional and appropriate approach when talking to James.

"We would like to thank the Journal for running the story, the large number of people who took the time to log onto the paper's website to show support for James and MP John Glen who gave support and advice to help James with his appeal."

James, from Winterslow, will be going back to work full time, working on small litter lorries, a slightly different role to his previous one.

He said: “ All I wanted to do was have a job I loved doing. I can’t wait to get back working in Salisbury. It’s great.”

A TLG spokesman said the decision to reinstate James had come following an internal review based on "new information received".

He said: "James has now returned to work with TLG. This review was independent of the original redundancy selection and this particular case was judged specifically on its own circumstances.”