The former personal assistant to Lady Archer told an employment tribunal Thursday she was concerned she would be blamed if stories about the Archers came to light.

Jane Williams, 49, from Saffron Walden in Essex, denied planning to disclose information about her employers to the media, but admitted that she had been approached by a national newspaper.

She said it had "never crossed my mind" to sell her story.

The tribunal has been told Lady Archer, 57, of Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, sacked Ms Williams after she refused to sign a confidentiality agreement before Lord Archer's perjury trial last year.

Ms Williams says her dismissal was unfair

Ms Williams said she had refused to sign the "draconian" agreement prior to being made redundant.

She said she was concerned that "if any story came into the public domain about the Archers, that blame would be arbitrarily assigned to me."

The tribunal heard earlier allegations that Ms Williams had recorded private conversations with Lady Archer and had planned to sell her story so she could pay off her mortgage.

Ms Williams denied this, but admitted taping at least two conversations for use in any subsequent employment tribunal hearing.

Wages withheld

The former PA claims Lady Archer breached her contract and cut her wages before withholding them entirely.

Lady Archer is accused of having unfairly dismissed Ms Williams.

Lady Archer has claimed that Ms Williams was made redundant because she no longer needed a full-time assistant and Ms Williams "didn't feel able to accept a part-time job."

The tribunal continues.