A FORMER sales manager from Burnley has spoken of her relief at winning a payout of £7,550 after a tribunal found she had been discriminated against for being a woman.

Elizabeth Marsden, 44, of Brunshaw Road, was one of three women who won compensation from their former employers Gro-well Feeds, based in Melksham in Wiltshire, after a tribunal in Bristol upheld their unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims.

The women had all worked for the company for less than 12 months and were dismissed, allegedly for poor performance, and reinstated, before being made redundant in June 2002.

They told a tribunal in Bristol on June 2, 3 and 25 that a male colleague was not required to submit call reports as they were, was given a better company car, was provided with a fuel card and was not made redundant, though his performance was no better than theirs. Their case was backed by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Elizabeth said: "It's a great relief we won our case. The tribunal agreed the way we were treated was totally unacceptable."

EOC chairman Julie Mellor said: "This decision highlights the importance of consistency in the way employers treat their staff.

"Any suggestion that some colleagues have to meet higher targets than others or do not receive the same perks as colleagues doing the same job leaves the employer vulnerable to claims of discrimination. Getting it right and treating all staff fairly has a positive impact on motivation and morale."

The other women involved in the case were Jayne Lancashire from South Kelsey in Lincolnshire, who was awarded £12,758 and Kim Cox from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, who was awarden £5,792. The company refused to comment on the case.