French MPs have voted in favour of banning the wearing of Islamic headscarves and other overt religious apparel in the classroom.

The proposed legislation will now be passed from the National Assembly to the upper house, the Senate, for approval in March.

Once it becomes law, the wearing of the Islamic hijab or headscarf, the Jewish skullcap, large Christian crosses and possibly the Sikh turban would be banned in public schools.

Ealing Mayor Cllr Gurcharan Singh wrote to the French Embassy in London to express his concern about the issue.

He wrote: "The legislation will increase discrimination against Sikhs, Muslims and Jews in schools and other state maintained sectors.

"As one belonging to the Sikh faith, I am concerned that the Sikhs will be particularly affected.

"For male Sikhs, the turban is a mandatory article of faith as much as hijab for Muslims girls. Wearing the turban is a religious commitment."

Cllr Singh, who himself wears a turban, joined more than ten thousand demonstrators from all faiths in Paris to take part in a peaceful demonstration against the proposed new law on Saturday 1st February.