Pc Cheshire was heard using racist language

Pc Keith Cheshire, who serves with North Wales Police, was one of eight officers suspended after being seen in the BBC programme, The Secret Policeman, filmed at a training school.

Six of them - from the Greater Manchester, Cheshire and North Wales forces - have since resigned.

The former plumber from Wrexham, who has not resigned from his job, said on Thursday: "I would not consider myself in any way a racist. I'm absolutely gutted."

Mr Cheshire was shown in the programme saying: "Anyone of an Indian nature straight away you would just call him a Paki, wouldn't you?"

I have had some quite close ethnic friends for about 18 years Pc Keith Cheshire

But the officer said he was horrified by what he saw in the programme.

Referring to his fellow officer, Pc Rob Pulling, putting on a Ku Klux Klan-style hood and saying he would bury an Asian under a train, Mr Cheshire said: "I wasn't there when this was going on, apart from one incident.

"I have been in no trouble whatsoever since I started the job. "The first thing I knew of being featured in the programme was when I saw it."

Mr Cheshire pointed out that he had friends from different ethnic backgrounds.

"There are no ethnic people in my family but I have had some quite close ethnic friends for about 18 years."

Pc Pulling wore a make-shift Ku Klux Klan hood

When he was seen talking to Pc Pulling and others in Tuesday night's programme, he was heard to say : "I make jokes about black people - everybody does. But you don't do it to their face and you don't do it in class."

Later he talked about a friend, saying :"My best mate is black. We have a laugh, take the **** out of each other."

Undercover reporter Mark Daly said in the programme : "It could have been the drink talking. Although he used racist language, I think Pc Cheshire was wrestling with his prejudices."

It was also revealed on Thursday that an investigation had started into allegations that racism was commonplace in North Wales Police.

The claims were made by disgraced officer Robert Pulling, whose racist comments were broadcast in the TV programme.

Mr Pulling resigned from North Wales Police following the screening of the programme on Tuesday, but has claimed that his extreme views were not out of place in the force.

Three officers from Greater Manchester and one from Cheshire have also resigned.

Pc Cheshire said he had friends from different cultures

Mr Pulling was the first to go, and was described as "a disgrace" by North Wales' Deputy Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale.

The other officers who resigned were Carl Jones, Tony Lewin, and Adrian Harrison, from Greater Manchester Police, and Pc Steve Salkeld, of the Cheshire force.

Pcs Andy Hall and Andy Turley, from Greater Manchester Police, remain suspended.

Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said a minority of police officers who needed to be dealt with, and it was quite clear police chiefs were taking action.