TELEVISION chef Phil Vickery, who whisked celebrity lover Fern Britton on a romantic trip to Venice on expenses, was ordered yesterday to repay #4359.

Mr Vickery, 38, was sacked after charging the bill for the luxury break to his bosses at the five-star Castle Hotel in Taunton, Somerset. Yesterday, he won his unfair dismissal claim but was ordered to repay #1444 for the trip plus a #2915 personal loan.

Mr Vickery left the #60,000-a-year job in a storm of publicity following the release of a press statement saying he had resigned last June. He said he was forced to go and claimed unfair dismissal against Castle owner Kit Chapman.

He told a tribunal last month he was sacked from the Michelin starred restaurant after becoming a regular on BBC programme Ready Steady Cook. Mr Vickery claimed he fell out with Mr Chapman over his success on the TV show, presented by Britton, who now lives with him in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Chapman maintained Mr Vickery was sacked for spending too much time in the television studio and not enough time in the kitchen where he had been head chef for nine years. They were appalled to discover the #1444 expenses-paid four-day trip to Italy to celebrate Britton's birthday.

Mr Vickery was given three months paid leave to recharge his batteries and was advised to see his doctor and to give up all his work. However, the hearing in Exeter, Devon, was told he continued to work for the hit TV show despite missing two important hotel functions.

Mr Vickery met his bosses to tell them he could not promise 100% commitment and was thinking of taking a year off. The following day, a press statement was released informing of his departure.

Yesterday, the tribunal ruled Mr Vickery had been dismissed unfairly. A remedy hearing will be held next month to ascertain what compensation will be made to him.