A man instructed to wear a shirt and tie at work is a victim of sexual discrimination, an employment tribunal heard.

A dress code brought in by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) stipulated men working in Jobcentre Plus offices across the country had to wear a collar and tie to work - but set no similar stipulation for women.

Now Matthew Thompson, who is employed as an administrative assistant at Jobcentre Plus in Stockport, Greater Manchester, has taken a test case against the DWP complaining of sexual discrimination.

Mr Thompson told a tribunal in Manchester that women in his office were allowed to wear T-shirts.

On one occasion, one female colleague wore a football shirt without facing disciplinary action.

He said: "It may not be the convention for women to wear a collar and tie but the point I am making is that a similar standard of business dress is not applied to women as it is to myself."

The hearing continues.