A chemical worker has been ordered to pay a colleague more than £1,000 in damages after hurling racial abuse about in the locker room.

Stephen Brear admitted making the foul comments while working alongside Clement Hanse, pictured, at Ciba Speciality Chemical Works in Bradford.

But despite Mr Brear, of Fernley Gardens, Wyke, being ordered to pay the compensation, the pair could still work side-by-side on the same shifts at the Low Moor firm.

An employment tribunal sitting at Leeds heard how Mr Brear shouted about "black b*******" and said Afro-Caribbeans "smelt funny" despite Mr Hanse, a fork lift truck operator, being in the room.

Mr Brear told the tribunal that at the time he did not think they were offensive and did not realise Mr Hanse was in the locker room at the Low Moor firm.

But 35-year-old Mr Hanse said when he heard Mr Brear talking about black people he joined in the conversation.

Mr Brear, who was disciplined by Ciba for the incident but still retained his job, said he was a working man who listened to comments like that all his life.

He said: "I did not think Mr Hanse had a problem with it. A lot of people do not take any notice of that."

Witness for the applicant, Andy Irving, a GMB convenor employed by Ciba, said: "Mr Hanse was very upset following the incident and is still very upset over it."

Mr Irving added he was concerned witnesses present at the time of the incident were possibly intimidated into changing their statements although this was denied by Stephen McDonagh, witness for Mr Brear.

Mr Hanse, of Daisy Street, Great Horton, who also settled a claim against Ciba out of court, said: "While I accept Mr Brear's comments were of a general nature while in conversation with the other two witnesses to the incident, I believe that once I had confronted him and he continued with them they then became very personal.

"I am black and the comments made can only be taken in one way: as a direct personal insult.

"Things are made worse by the fact that Mr Brear is an intimidating figure well known for his abrasive attitude."

Colin Grazin, chairman of the tribunal, said: "Mr Brear, you are going to have to learn that this is not acceptable these days."

He ordered Mr Brear to pay £1,000 compensation, plus interest.

Mr Hanse, speaking after the tribunal, said: "I am very happy with the decision. It is not a case of money, it is the principle."

Mr Brear, who represented himself, refused to comment after the hearing.

Rodney Swailes, head of human resources for Ciba, which operates a dignity in the work place policy, said: "I cannot comment on whether the men will be working together. It is not our policy to comment."