Former Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler told the High Court he learned of his sacking from media reports.

Bosses at the Stobart Group have sued Mr Tinkler, claiming he conspired with other businessmen to harm the company's interests.

Bosses have also have made claims about money spent on air travel, and want a judge to rule that he was lawfully dismissed.

Mr Tinkler, who was chief executive between 2007 and 2017, denies wrongdoing, saying he was removed as a director and employee for no good reason earlier this year, and has counter-claimed.

He told Judge Jonathan Russen, who is overseeing a trial at the High Court in London, how in June he had read of his sacking on the internet.

"I was in an all-day meeting," he said in a written witness statement.

"In the middle of the afternoon, I was informed by someone that there were press releases on the internet that I had been summarily dismissed".

He said he checked his email and discovered a letter from the company and added: "I had not prior warning of this at all."

Mr Tinkler told the judge: "It is an understatement to say that I feel I have been treated disgracefully."

He accused bosses of "arrogance and self-interest" and complained of a "flagrant disregard" for the view of most shareholders.

Mr Tinkler, who began giving evidence on Monday, said allegations that he was "guilty of gross misconduct" and had "participated in a conspiracy" were "ill-judged" and "entirely without merit".

He said he had dedicated his career into building the Stobart Group into a business which was worth £1 billion.

Earlier, a high-profile investment fund manager had denied being involved in a conspiracy to "injure" Stobart.

Neil Woodford, founder of Woodford Investment Management, told the judge that he was shocked at allegations made against him by Stobart bosses.

He said allegations that he conspired with Mr Tinkler were "completely unfounded".

A high-profile investment fund manager has denied being involved in a conspiracy to "injure" a major infrastructure company.

Neil Woodford, founder of Woodford Investment Management, told a judge on Monday that he was shocked at allegations made against him by bosses at the Stobart Group.

He told Judge Jonathan Russen that allegations that he conspired with Stobart's former chief executive, Andrew Tinkler, were "completely unfounded".

Mr Woodford was giving evidence during the latest stage of a High Court trial in London.

In a written witness statement given to the judge, Mr Woodford said: "I am shocked to see that Stobart has chosen to make allegations that I was a party to a 'conspiracy' to use 'unlawful means' to 'injure the company'.

"Those allegations are untrue and there is no evidential basis for them."

He said he had managed funds invested in Stobart for more than 10 years.

"Why I would want to 'injure' Stobart, in which I have chosen to invest my investors' funds, is never explained, as is the allegation that I conspired with Andrew Tinkler to pursue his interests over those of Stobart.

"I owe duties to the funds I manage, and it is in the best interests of these funds for Stobart to be as successful as possible."

Mr Woodford said he had "consistently held the belief" that retaining Mr Tinkler on the Stobart board was in the company's best interests and those of investment funds he managed.

He added that, in his view, Mr Tinkler was the "entrepreneurial brains" behind Stobart and a "value creator".

The trial continues.