THE Archbishop of York has blasted British Airways after they banned an employee from displaying a cross necklace at work.

Dr John Sentamu called the airline's decision "nonsense" and urged them to reconsider.

Nadia Eweida lost her appeal to wear the necklace to work at Heathrow, but Dr Sentamu accused BA of flawed reasoning.

The company allows male Sikh staff to wear turbans and female Muslim staff to wear hijabs, but said Ms Eweida could not wear the cross due to a "question of practicality."

Dr Sentamu said: "This decision by British Airways is a nonsense and is based on flawed reasoning.

"The basis for the decision should not be "practicality", as BA suggests in its statement, but rather whether it impacts on Nadia's ability to do her job.

"It is clear that Nadia's cross does not form an impediment to her ability to carry out her duties." He added: "Wearing a cross carries with it not only a symbol of our hopes but also a responsibility to act and to live as Christians.

"This symbol does not point only upwards but also outwards, it reminds us of our duties not only to God but also to one another.

"British Airways needs to look again at this decision and to look at the history of the country it represents, whose culture, laws, heritage and tradition owes so much to the very same symbol it would ban."

BA said its policy meant jewellery could be worn, but only beneath the uniform.