A GROUP of former workers at a flooring retailer have been awarded payouts totalling almost £160,000 following a lengthy battle over unpaid redundancy cash.

The 12 former Behar Carpets employees, who were made redundant without warning in April this year, were forced to take their case to an employment tribunal after the firm refused to pay out.

They have spent the past six months fighting for the money they are owed - including redundancy payments and unpaid holiday and notice pay.

However, despite winning their case, the workers' battle is set to continue as Culzean Ventures - the firm that owned Behar when they were made redundant - has been placed in liquidation.

The firm, which has struggled financially in recent years, is also facing fierce criticism from customers over alleged poor customer service and claims of people paying for flooring they never receive.

One former worker, who did not want to be named, said it had been a difficult few months for the staff who lost their jobs.

He said. "It was literally a case of just being called into the office to be told we were no longer needed and we had to leave the premises. We were given no reason for being made redundant but we were told we would get redundancy and holiday pay etc, but it just never came.

"It totally destroyed our faith in the company. We thought they were a honourable company."

Employment judges awarded the workers a total of £158,742.08.

The 12, who are largely based in Glasgow, were awarded the cash by default as Culzean Ventures failed to defend the claims.

It is understood that, as the firm is now in liquidation, they be able to claim some of their redundancy back through a Government insolvency scheme.

Meanwhile, customers of the carpet retailer have complained of poor service. Rosina Buckland, from ­Edinburgh, said she bought a carpet but never received it and has tried without success to obtain a refund.

Others complained on Twitter, with one posting: "Anyone else out there had problems with Behar Carpets recently? They're making me lose the will to live."

Culzean Ventures was owned by Nixon & Hope Ventures Ltd, which is also in liquidation. It remains unclear who exactly owns Behar Carpets.

No-one from Behar Carpets or Nixon and Hope Ventures was available for comment. The liquidators of Culzean Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.