Headscarf hairdresser wins £4,000

A Muslim woman who was refused a job at a hairdressers because she wore a headscarf has won £4,000.

Bushra Noah accused Sarah Desrosiers, the owner of an " alternative" salon in King's Cross, of religious discrimination after failing to land a job at an interview in May last year. An employment tribunal panel dismissed the claim of direct discriminationbut said offence had been caused to the 19-year-old, who had applied for more than 20 salon jobs without success.

The central London tribunal was told Ms Desrosiers was persuaded to give her an interview but was shocked when she wore a headscarf.

She told Mrs Noah she needed stylists to showcase alternative hairstyles. The panel found Mrs Noah of Acton had been badly upset by the interview and awarded her £4,000 damages for "injury to feelings".

Ms Desrosiers, 32, said: "I never in a million years dreamt that somebody would be completely against the display of hair and be in this industry."