Four former Muslim workers of a French airport security company who were fired shortly after the 2015 Paris attacks because their beards were deemed too long are suing their ex-employer.

They are claiming they were victims of discrimination based on religion and physical appearance.

A labour court just outside Paris is expected to rule on Thursday on whether the security guards were unfairly fired for refusing orders to trim their beards amid terrorism fears.

The four men are asking the court to order security firm Securitas to pay them 53,000 euro (£47,000) in damages each for unfair dismissals and discrimination.

Securitas has denied any discrimination and said it is “perfectly legitimate” to require its agents to wear a “short, trimmed and neat beard” because of the security missions they perform.