A TELEPHONE receptionist who claimed she was sacked because of her accent has received an out-of-court settlement of nearly £14,000.

Sri Lankan Yasmin Rajiah, 42, claimed that property consultants FPD Savills Ltd discriminated against her because of her race.

Mrs Rajiah told a tribunal that fellow staff at the regional office in Jewry Street, Winchester, only ever praised her for her work.

The company denied the claims at the employment tribunal in Southampton, saying she was sacked because of numerous mistakes.

Yesterday the panel ordered, after agreement from both parties, that an out of court settlement of £13,834 be made to Mrs Rajiah.

Of that total, £7,000 was for injury to feelings, £4,621 for loss of earnings and £2,212 for future loss of earnings. Mrs Rajiah said afterwards: "I am happy with the result of the case and now wish to put the matter behind me and get on with my life."

FPD Savills Ltd declined to comment.

The hearing was told that Mrs Rajiah, a secretary for many years, started at the company in October 1999 on a trial period as a part-time receptionist.

In January, at the end of Mrs Rajiah's probation period, she was called into a meeting with line manager Anne-Marie Green.

Mrs Rajiah claimed Mrs Green told her that the staff had complained about her accent. "I was devastated, I never realised my accent was a problem," she said.

Mrs Rajiah, of Chilcombe Heights, Quarry Road, Winchester, said: "On reflection I've realised it's racism. At no point was I told I wasn't meeting company standards."

FPD Savills said her sacking had nothing to do with her accent but was due to her constant mistakes during her probation period.