European court to rule on UK Christians' discrimination claims

The European Court of Human Rights is due to deliver a landmark ruling in the cases of four British Christians who claim they suffered religious discrimination at work.

They include an airline worker stopped from wearing a cross and a registrar who did not want to marry gay people.

The four insist their right to express their religious beliefs was infringed.

The government, which is contesting the claims, argues their rights are protected only in private.

Campaigners on both sides say the judgement could shape UK equality law.

The cases involve nurse Shirley Chaplin, 57, and British Airways employee Nadia Eweida, 60, who took their cases to the European Court of Human Rights after being made to stop wearing necklaces with a cross by their employers.

Judges will also rule on the cases of Gary McFarlane, 51 - a marriage counsellor fired after saying he might object to giving sex therapy advice to gay couples - and registrar Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.