Two mothers returning to work after maternity leave were told by a major insurance company to accept inferior jobs or resign.

Kerry Ramshaw and Nicola O'Donnell applied to job-share at Legal & General before they returned to work in May 2003.

Both were refused, even though they were team managers with similar responsibilities and Ms O'Donnell wanted to work three days a week and Ms Ramshaw two days a week. The women had more than 20 years' experience between them at the company's offices in Montefiore Road, Hove.

Ms Ramshaw, 35, of Test Road, Sompting, said: "We couldn't believe they refused because it seemed to be the perfect arrangement. But the only thing I was offered was five part-time shifts a week.

"That would still be so much hassle getting childcare and everything, I might as well have worked full-time. I was told to accept that job or resign."

Ms O'Donnell, 36, of Highlands Road, Portslade, said: "When I returned I had to accept a diminished role with a reduced salary or face losing my job."

The two women took Legal & General to an employment tribunal for sex discrimination.

The case was heard at Brighton Tribunal Centre in July and found in favour of the women, with members criticising the company for appearing to be family-friendly on paper but not in practice.

They will return to the tribunal centre on October 5 to find out how much compensation they will receive. Both women intend to return to Legal & General and hope their successful battle will mean other employees can avoid a similar fight.

A Legal & General spokeswoman said: "The hearing continues and won't be resolved until the remedy meeting on October 5, so it would clearly be inappropriate for us to comment on these individual cases at the current time.

"However, in general terms, 25 per cent of employees in our Hove office are part-time compared with the industry average of 12.75 per cent."