A British Airways employee who has waged a long legal battle with the airline over the wearing of a cross is to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights, it was revealed today.

Nadia Eweida, 58, said she was making the move as she had "exhausted all legal avenues in the UK".

Ms Eweida, from Twickenham, south west London, said: "I have been given to understand that it will take four to six months before I hear whether my case will be accepted and heard."

The case stems from BA's original uniform policy which prevented Ms Eweida from wearing her Christian cross silver chain around her neck at work.

She went home in September 2006 after failing to reach a compromise with managers over the wearing of the cross.

Later, BA changed its uniform policy and Ms Eweida returned to work in customer services.

An Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled in December 2008 that she was not a victim of religious discrimination.

The Court of Appeal earlier this year upheld the tribunal's decision and Ms Eweida also had no success when she took the case to the Supreme Court.

Ms Eweida is asking the European Court to find that she was discriminated against and is also seeking "just satisfaction" for lost wages.

A BA spokesman said: "British Airways has won every stage of this case since it was first heard in 2007 including a final Supreme Court ruling in our favour in June this summer.

"Every ruling has confirmed that we acted lawfully and appropriately throughout. There are no more avenues of appeal open to her against BA's handling of this matter."