THE University of Bolton has reached an undisclosed financial settlement with two members of staff it sacked for gross misconduct.

Damien and Jennifer Markey were controversially dismissed in March for allegedly leaking information to the press about vice-chancellor George Holmes.

Mr Markey, a senior lecturer in visual effects for film and television, and his wife, an academic administrator in the health and community studies department, were sacked after press coverage of Mr Holmes' spending habits and financial arrangements.

This included The Bolton News revealing that Dr Holmes had taken out a £960,000 loan from the university to move to Bolton and details of staff away days to a resort in the Lake District.

The sackings led to a campaign calling for the reinstatement of the two, who strenuously denied leaking the information.

A rally with hundreds of people was staged in the town centre and the couple received support from people, including academics, from across the country.

Westhoughton actress Maxine Peake also backed the campaign to have the two reinstated.

In May, the university threw out appeals from the couple and upheld the sackings.

The university insisted throughout that it was comfortable that all the correct procedures had been followed.

Martyn Moss from the UCU representing Mr Markey said at the time the union would be instructing their lawyers to fight on behalf of their members.

Now it has emerged that a settlement has been reached between the university and the Markeys.

When The Bolton News approached the university for a comment, a spokesman said: “The university has reached a commercially expedient settlement and all parties have agreed the matter is at an end.”

The university declined to make any further comment.

The same statement has been issued by the UCU.

No details of the settlement have been revealed.