Age discrimination claims have risen by 27% in the last 12 months as the recession leads to more staff cut-backs, according to research by law firm Eversheads.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is due to decide on a landmark case this week whether the British government's decision to allow employers to force staff to retire at 65 breaches their human rights.

Hundreds of age tribunal claims have been postponed, awaiting the ECJ's decision and the ramification this will have on UK employment law.

"Too much of the discussion about age discrimination and the age regulations has focused on the issue of enforced retirement at age 65," said Chris Ball, of the Age and Employment Network.

"Age discrimination can occur at any time throughout an individual's working life and it frequently does at the recruitment stage."