France's top administrative court overturns burkini ban

The controversial burkini ban has been overturned by France's highest administrative court. 

In a ruling, the court said the ban on the full-body burkini swimsuits were 'seriously, and clearly illegally'.

The State Council heard arguments from the Human Rights League and an anti-Islamophobia group which were seeking to reverse a decision by the southern town of Villeneuve-Loubet to ban the Islamic garment.

The ruling will likely to set a precedent for around 30 French towns which have banned the burkini, mostly along the southeast coast.

A court in the Riviera resort of Nice upheld the Villeneuve-Loubet ban this week.

The court said in a statement the decree to ban burkinis in Villeneuve-Loubet 'seriously, and clearly illegally, breached the fundamental freedoms to come and go, the freedom of beliefs and individual freedom'.

Under the French legal system, temporary decisions can be handed down before the court takes more time to prepare a judgement on the underlying legality of the case.