A firearms officer who guarded Tony Blair and members of the Royal family has claimed superiors wanted him out of the unit, saying "he is just a P**i".

Pc Nadeem Saddique (pictured), who has taken Cleveland Police to an employment tribunal, also said he found out an inspector had referred to him as a "black c***". His employer denies the comments were made.

The highly-trained Middlesbrough-born officer, who joined the force in 1991, also claimed a firearms colleague was found to be displaying an English Defence League sticker on his holster while he was on duty.

Pc Saddique trained as an Authorised Firearms Officer in 2001 and five years later he became a VIP Close Protection Officer.

He protected Mr Blair when he was still Prime Minister, guarded a Home Secretary and has acted as a "protection driver" for members of the royal family, his statement to the tribunal said.

In his statement claiming racial discrimination against the force, he said another officer told him about comments allegedly made by superiors during a night out.

Pc Saddique claimed Sergeant Duncan Charlesworth confided in him at a gym in 2008 or 2009 that Inspector Mick Robson told another officer referred to as Sgt A: "I'll get that black c*** out of firearms watch."

Sgt A apparently agreed and allegedly replied: "Who does he think he is, he is just a P**i."

The comments which Sgt Charlesworth allegedly overheard came during a night out in the Black Bull pub, Yarm, Teesside, when Pc Saddique was not present.

The officer said he was the only "BME" (Black and Minority Ethnic) officer in Cleveland Firearms unit at the time.

When Pc Saddique asked Sgt Charlesworth why he had not reported the incident, his colleague allegedly replied: "Don't be daft, no-one will listen or take any action."

Since then, he said his relationship with Sgt Charlesworth had soured, the tribunal heard.

Richard Oulton, representing Cleveland Police at the hearing, said the comments allegedly made at the pub were "completely denied".

Mr Oulton asked why the officer was "vague" about the time those "deeply unsettling words" were made.

The claimant replied: "If it was an isolated incident of racist culture or comment, I could be more specific. Since I was subject to it most of my career, I couldn't possibly give a more accurate time for them."

Pc Saddique also claimed he was told that another officer, Sgt B, had said "n*****s and P***s, they are all the same" during a briefing. Sgt B had received a warning for this comment, he said.

Pc Saddique said a former colleague bumped into him while he was shopping in 2009 and told him Sgt A and Insp Robson had discussed how to remove him from the firearms unit and that a "P**i" should not work there.

And in 2011, Pc Saddique complained that Pc John Roberts was displaying a "racist EDL" sticker on his holster.

Insp Robson investigated, searched the officer's locker, removed the sticker and threw it away. Pc Roberts was suspended as an Authorised Firearms Officer, the tribunal heard.

Pc Saddique's claim stated: "Inspector Robson told me he did not consider the sticker was racist.

"I asked him if he could show me the sticker but by that point he had already thrown it away."

The two parties disagreed about the sticker, with Pc Saddique claiming he had heard it had a message including the words "Muslim" and "Crusader", while notes Insp Robson made said it did not contain any writing, and he felt it had no racist connotations.

The claimant felt the issue was not properly investigated and the sticker should have been kept for evidence.

Pc Saddique, from Stockton, Teesside, began an employment tribunal against the force in 2011, claiming race discrimination, harassment and bullying.

He settled with his employer without receiving any money, on the understanding that he would be given access to training and he would regain his VIP protection status which he felt he had unfairly lost, when he returned to work.

But he felt that since then that a personal development plan had not been properly implemented.

Employment Tribunal Judge Tudor Garnon has ruled elements of the case relating to a report into racism within the force will be heard in secret.

The force is contesting the claim and the hearing, which is due to last 10 days, continues.