BBC tell Suzanne Virdee to stay away

BBC Midlands Today presenter Suzanne Virdee has been asked not to go into work after issuing a statement to the press, it was claimed today.

Virdee issued a statement on Wednesday revealing she was leaving the show today after refusing to sign a new contract.

She blamed "circumstances beyond her control" for quitting.

However, a representative for the National Union of Journalists has claimed the BBC told her not to fulfil her contract because she had issued a statement to the press.

Michele Paduano, a union leader for the NUJ at Midlands Today and a health correspondent, sent an email to members calling for a meeting to discuss the departure of Virdee.

"She has since been contacted and told that it would be better for all concerned for her not to fulfil her contract and present for the last two days of her contract," he wrote in an email.

"She is still being paid for her services on those two days."

Virdee, aged 42, then issued a further statement saying she had been "surprised and deeply saddened" to be told she was not required to fulfil her contract.