HERTZ (UK) has been found guilty of racial discrimination at one of its branches and now has three months to retrain some managers on racial equality issues.

The London South Employment Tribunal ruled unanimously that the firm had racially discriminated against a black employee, Howard Morant, at its London Victoria branch in April 2002 by 'failing to give him a fair opportunity for promotion.'

The tribunal also recommended that Hertz 'provides within three months training and guidance in race equality for its managers at the Victoria branch and at any other branch at which the Mr Morant may work.'

Morant's solicitors, Courtney Hay of Bradford, said: 'Hertz has ignored the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice by failing to train managers in race equality and by not monitoring its equal opportunity policy.'

A Hertz spokesman said: 'We have only just received the tribunal's decision which we are reviewing. We are surprised and shall be considering appealing.'