The wife of disgraced peer Lord Archer has told an employment tribunal her former personal assistant sent "rude" e-mails about her to friends.

Lady Mary Archer, 57, of Grantchester, near Cambridge, was giving evidence on the opening day of a hearing bought by her former aide Jane Williams.

Ms Williams, 49, who worked at the Archers' home between 1988 and 2001, is claiming she was unfairly dismissed.

Jane Williams is claiming unfair dismissal

But Lady Archer outlined a number of concerns she had about Ms Williams' performance and behaviour.

She said: "It is disturbing to find my PA is sitting in her private office e-mailing rude stuff about me to her friends.

"There are quite a number of allusions to disparaging e-mails (in my evidence) which is something I could not tolerate."

Details of Ms Williams' complaint have not yet been given in detail in public - although members of the three-strong tribunal have seen written papers.

The tribunal heard that Ms Williams was unhappy about her pay and was offended by a number of "insulting and embarrassing gifts" Lady Archer had given to her.

The hearing, which began on Monday in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is expected to last for three days.

High standards

Lady Archer's husband is serving a four year jail sentence for perjury after being convicted of lying during a libel trial in 1987 following allegations that he had slept with a prostitute.

She told the tribunal her house had three staff - her personal assistant, a housekeeper and a gardener.

Asked whether she regarded herself as a "perfectionist", she replied: "I certainly have high standards ... I hope that my standards don't make me difficult to work for. I don't believe they do."

Early in 2001 Lady Archer said she felt she had to voice her concerns about Ms Williams attitude and performance.

She said: "From having a good relationship where I felt Jane was a willing employee and PA, she became more difficult.

'Flat champagne'

"She was sullen. She was sometimes rude. She would slam doors. She would down tools at 5pm even if there was something really quite urgent."

Lady Archer told the tribunal she felt staff employed at the Old Vicarage were in a "rather particular and privileged position".

The tribunal heard that Ms Williams had been upset by gifts she received from Lady Archer, which she regarded as "insulting and embarrassing".

For one birthday, her gift had been "an inch of flat champagne" and she was also upset at being given a watch with a sticker on the back saying "made in China".