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The appeal is being heard by three of Britain's most senior judges - Master of the Rolls Geoffrey Vos; Victoria Sharp, the president of the Queen's Bench Division; and Justice Eleanor King.

She sits in the Queen's Bench Division - the part of the High Court which deals with defamation, personal injury and breach of contract claims.

Ms Melvin has a right of appeal to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days.

President of the Queen's Bench Division, Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Sweeney and Mrs Justice Ellenbogen, refused the appeal, saying the reasons for this would be given at a later time.

Five senior judges - including the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett and the President of the Queen's Bench Division, Dame Victoria Sharp - heard the appeal in October at the High Court in London.