A social club committee has been ordered to pay compensation to a former employee over racist remarks.

Amelda Anderson won her case against the Welsh Club committee in Hereford and the club's former secretary George Hood.

Members of the Employers Tribunal Service at Hereford's Shire Hall concluded her ethnic origins had been referred to in a derogatory way by Mr Hood.

At the tribunal on Wednesday Mrs Anderson was represented by the Citizens' Advice Bureau which set out to prove the remarks the club's committee had dismissed as hearsay.

Racial abuse

Mr Hood was ordered to pay �1,000 compensation and the club was ordered to pay �2,000 to Mrs Anderson, who worked as a cleaner at the Hinton Road club until June this year.

The Race Equality Officer for Hereford, Neville Meredith, said it was an important stand against racial abuse in the county.

"I think it sends out a good, clear message for people of colour in this county," he said.

"The county is now working towards a total race equality agenda."