South Wales Police will not contest the tribunal case

South Wales Police has settled the claim ahead of an employment tribunal in Cardiff which was to hear that the women were consistently under-graded and passed over for promotion.

Each of the seven female staff - aged between 37 and 61 and with more than 160 years service between them - now expects to receive about �30,000 compensation in back-dated salary.

But the force's decision, after a 16-year fight by the women, could open the floodgates for hundreds of claims by other women police staff, according to the union Unison.

We made it clear that we felt we were being discriminated against but it was like banging our heads against a brick wall at first Barbara Kenefick

Unison General Secretary Dave Prentis said: "The case will send shock waves to police forces throughout England and Wales and is a warning to get their act together or face a hefty bill.

"They must look carefully at their own procedures and carry out equal pay audits otherwise they will face similar claims."

The warning has been echoed by the Equal Opportunities Commission Wales.

Director Kate Bennett said: "We are delighted that this case has been successful but are disappointed it has come to this - and is a warning to other employers in Wales.

"The best way to avoid litigation of this type is to undertake a pay review to insure any discrimination is eradicated.

"It illustrates how the jobs women tend to do are undervalued by comparison to the work men do."

Camaign since 1987

Unison lodged the tribunal case in April 2001, claiming the women - dubbed the "Magnificent Seven" by colleagues - were being paid an average of �5,000 a year less than men who were doing similar jobs.

The women were employed as business or general managers at police stations throughout south Wales earning an average salary of �23,000.

Susan Williams, 44, a general manager based in the force's Neath-Port Talbot division, said: "All we have wanted was parity with men doing similar jobs.

"We felt it was so unfair being paid much less - now a great wrong has been put right at last."

The women's campaign began in 1987 with managers Barbara Kenefick, Dorothy Morgan and Annette Stephens.

Mrs Kenefick, 61, who has recently retired, said: "We made it clear that we felt we were being discriminated against but it was like banging our heads against a brick wall at first.

"It was galling to know that our contribution was just as valuable as some of the men who were on higher grades."