A top analyst has predicted the "death knell" for secrecy over bonus payments at City firms after she won a landmark battle.

Louise Barton, 52, lost her case claiming sexual discrimination last year at an employment tribunal but yesterday won an appeal over the decision against her former employers, Investec Henderson Crosthwaite Securities.

She complained her basic pay and bonuses were only half of the £2 million given to a male colleague for the same work, even though he was junior to her.

The case will now return to a tribunal, which the company said it was confident of winning despite yesterday's ruling.

The employment appeal tribunal ruled that no tribunal should be seen to condone a bonus culture involving secrecy because of the potentially large amounts involved as a reason for avoiding equal pay obligations.

The former media analyst, who was backed by the Equal Opportunities Commission said she was delighted with the decision.

Ms Barton, from west London, said she had endured a long battle which had been expensive, time consuming and stressful.

She said: "This is a victory for women as it represents a major step forward in eliminating the secretive bonus culture"