Gay clergyman Jeremy Pemberton has won the right to appeal against a ruling by an employment tribunal that he was not discriminated against.

Canon Pemberton took his case to the tribunal after he was refused a licence to work as a hospital chaplain because he had married his partner Laurence Cunnington.

The decision by the acting Bishop of Southwell meant he was unable to take up the job as Head of Chaplaincy and Bereavement Services in Nottinghamshire. He has remained in his previous job as a hospital chaplain in Lincolnshire.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal will hold a two-day hearing later this year.

Pemberton said: "I heard from the Employment Appeal Tribunal that they accepted my application for an appeal. It's important to appeal because this is a test case and test cases need testing. The judgement given in the tribunal had some things my lawyers felt needed further testing."

No new evidence will be heard by the appeal which will look at the legal arguments.