Miss Watkins-Singh’s victory comes after similar claims for religious discrimination in schools and the workplace since the laws barring unfair treatment of workers on religious grounds took effect in 2003.

Nadia Eweida, from Twickenham, southwest London, took her case to an employment tribunal after complaining that a British Airways manager banned her from wearing a small cross around her neck when she was checking in passengers.

She lost her claim for religious discrimination in January 2008, but in November 2007 BA said they would review their uniform policy to allow employees to wear symbols of faith openly.

Teenager Lydia Playfoot made an unsuccessful challenge in the High Court against her school’s prohibition on chastity rings in July 2007. The judge said the silver ring, worn by teenagers who have vowed to remain celibate until they marry, was not a recognised symbol of faith.

Aishah Azmi, a Muslim primary school teacher refused to remove her face veil when male colleagues were present at a Church of England primary school in Dewsbury. She lost her discrimination case in 2006 but was later awarded £1,100 over the way it was handled.

Fiona Bruce, the newsreader, was at the centre of controversy over whether she could wear a cross when reading the news. BBC executives have now said she may, as long as it's not large or shiny.

Mohsin Mohmed, a former customer service assistant at Euston Station, claimed religious discrimination when he was dismissed for refusing to trim his beard to a fist's length - four inches. Eversheds, the City law firm, acted for Virgin Trains in the first religious discrimination claim to reach the Employment Appeal Tribunal since the laws barring unfair treatment of workers on religious grounds took effect in 2003. The appeal tribunal found that he and Virgin had agreed that he trim his beard to this length and that his treatment was no different from a non-Muslim employee.