A TOP academic who claimed she was passed over for a university professorship because she was a woman has lost her claim for sexual discrimination.

International economics expert Dr Barbara Ingham, 56, of Linton Croft, Waddington Road, Waddington, who works at Salford University, took her case to an industrial tribunal in Manchester.

She claimed the college authorities were reliant on "male dominated" committees.

The university said it was not unfairly discriminating against Dr Ingham, arguing a higher percentage of women were awarded professorships than men in 1999. Dr Ingham was the only female candidate not to be promoted out of the 21 finalists, six of whom were women.

Last July the tribunal panel adjourned the hearings to deliberate on their decision which has now been sent in writing to mother-of-three Dr Ingham and the university.