Former TV presenter Suzanne Virdee, who quit Midlands Today after 11 years amid claims of a “poisonous atmosphere” at the Mailbox, is suing the BBC.

Ms Virdee, a long-time co-host with Nick Owen of the popular teatime news programme, has lodged a claim for an employment tribunal through her city-based lawyers, Brendan Fleming.

The former Birmingham Mail reporter originally announced in March that she would not be signing a new five-month BBC contract because of what she called “circumstances beyond my control.”

But the controversy over her departure intensified after it emerged that she had been unable to fulfil the final two days of her contract amid claims she was ordered to leave early by Cath Hearne, head of regional programmes in the West Midlands.

Lawyer Michael Sweeney of Brendan Fleming said: “I can confirm that a claim has been lodged with Birmingham Employment Tribunal. This is very much to do with the historic problems that have been prevalent in BBC Midlands Today management.”

Ms Hearne had been at the centre of an alleged bullying row in September 2010 after the NUJ passed votes of no confidence in her and then acting editor Mark Hayman’s management. An independent inquiry later rejected claims of intimidation at the Mailbox. Following her departure, Virdee issued a statement, saying she was “surprised and deeply saddened” by the circumstances.

The National Union of Journalists later issued a statement deploring the BBC’s treatment of the presenter.

“This chapel deeply regrets the fact the BBC could not reach agreement with Suzanne Virdee over the continuation of her contract,” it said.

“We feel we are losing a first-class presenter and a valued colleague.

“We deplore the way she was treated by the BBC management over a considerable period of time but the decision not to allow her to present the programme and say goodbye after 11 years at Midlands Today is nothing short of disgrace.”

A BBC spokeswoman said: “This is not an area that we would comment upon.”