A WORKER who lost a legal battle against retail giant Marks and Spencer, claiming bosses had stopped her from using the public address system because of her Indian accent, said today: "I still feel I was unfairly treated".

Pravita Parmar, of Great Lever, is now facing court costs of up to £10,000.

Miss Parmar, aged 32, is also considering further legal proceedings.

She had claimed she was racially discriminated against by bosses at Manchester's flagship Marks & Spencer store in St Mary's Gate, the world's largest.

She told the Manchester tribunal that an on-line manager had entered the CCTV room at the store last year and told her: "As you have an accent I don't want you to use the public address system anymore."

Miss Parmar said she was told her accent -- described as Indian mixed with Bolton -- was not professional enough. But the seven day hearing ruled in favour of the retail giants on Friday.

Her discrimination claims were rejected after the panel ruled her evidence was "extremely selective" and "not entirely reliable".

But today Miss Parmar said she had not decided whether or not to take any further action.

And she admitted being "surprised" at the outcome of the hearing.

She said: "I have not really decided what I am going to do next. I represented myself. It is still sinking in and I was shocked by the outcome. I might be ordered to pay the costs now in excess of £10,000.

"I still believe I was unfairly treated by Marks & Spencer regarding the situations that led to the court hearing. Unfortunately in all cases similar to this it is important to ensure you have substantial evidence to prove your case."

Miss Parmar joined the store in 1998 as a check-out operator. She worked her way up to the surveillance office where she monitored cameras and controlled the address system.

During the tribunal, the panel heard that it was Miss Parmar's diligence which captured video footage of a suspect IRA van minutes before the Manchester bomb exploded. But in May last year, she told the tribunal, she was barred from using the system because of her accent.

Miss Parmar still works at the Bolton branch of Marks & Spencer in Deansgate.

She added: "Unfortunately for me, it was very difficult to provide evidence in support of my case but I would like to thank the members of the public for the support they showed towards me."

A spokesman for Marks & Spencer said the company was "delighted" with the hearing's verdict. He added that the company would "most definitely" continue to employ her.