A tribunal has blasted senior doctors at an NHS hospital for inventing lies to hound out a female consultant after she took maternity leave and then uncovered dodgy payments handed to them while she was away.

Consultant physician Dr Eva Michalak, 51, left work in May 2003 to have a baby before returning to find her colleagues had vowed to force her out.

She was subjected to a campaign during which they appointed a locum to cover her workload, then applied for extra money claiming they had extra duties.

They held secret meetings and created false allegations against her and even lied to a High Court to cover up their scheme.

Eva was repeatedly suspended before being dismissed for no reason.

Claims of sex and race discrimination were successfully made by Eva and she is now awaiting compensation after being unable to work.

Angie Watson, Chief Operating Officer at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We have unreservedly apologised to Dr Michalak and I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that apology in public."