A Jewish woman has been awarded more than £16,000 in damages by an employment tribunal after being rejected for a job because she would not work on Shabbat.

Aurelie Fhima said her application to work at a Manchester-based car rental firm was turned down after she revealed she was Shabbat observant and could not work on Saturdays.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the company told her she had not got the job because: "We are still looking for people who are flexible enough to work Saturdays.”

Ms Fhima, of Salford, asked the firm to review its decision and started legal action when it refused, claiming indirect discrimination on grounds of religion.

Tribunal judges found in her favour, awarding almost £8,000 for loss of earnings, £7,500 for injury to feelings and £1,200 in costs.