The TUC is to take the government to court over new regulations which they claim will allow continued discrimination against gay and lesbian workers.

Papers have been lodged at the High Court by the union body claiming two aspects of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations will still permit discrimination.

Current laws - under which some gay and unmarried partners are prevented from receiving benefits from certain pension schemes - are not revoked by the new legislation, while a further section exempts workers if they are employed by an organised religion.

The regulations come into effect from December 1 this year.

So far, the move by the TUC has the backing of eight unions: Amicus, Unison, the NUT, the RMT, the PCS, the NASUWT and NATFHE.

"The government's new sexual orientation regulations as a whole will make a real difference to gay people, giving them real legal protection at work for the first time," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

"But it is unfortunate that the government has decided to exempt those working for religious organisations and wants to bar lesbians and gay men from receiving benefits from certain pension schemes.

"This is a good law made less effective by two small but significant restrictions. If gay workers are to achieve true equality with their colleagues, the government needs to scrap the offending clauses."