RACIST abuse in the region's workplace is both widespread and serious, with many black and Asian workers suffering appalling levels of verbal and sometimes physical attacks, according to a report by the TUC.

The report, Exposing Racism at Work, is the result of the analysis of about 450 calls made to the TUC's week-long rooting out racism telephone hotline, opened in mid-June.

Although less than one per cent of callers were from the region, TUC general secretary John Monks said the problem across the country must be addressed.

"Unfortunately, this is just the tip of an iceberg," he said, "but everyone should remember that racial discrimination is illegal, and will not be tolerated by decent people."

One of the horror stories in the report included details of how a communications engineer from Manchester had the word "nigger" written on his locker and pigeonhole.

His "workmates" urinated in his boots, attempted to set him alight and sent death threats.

He complained about a notice scrawled on the wall about joining the National Front and his manager told him to clean it off himself.

He was off with depression, and even felt suicidal, but said he had to think of his wife and kids and is now back at work.

Incidents in the region this year include:

April - a black North-East victim of racial discrimination won £3,000 damages against Darlington van hire company North Road Self Drive, which refused to lease him a van.

February - a police officer who endured 12 months of racist abuse from a colleague in the Cleveland force who repeatedly called him "nigger" received a settlement believed to be about £15,000.

January - Durham City council paid £6,500 to an employee who alleged he had been racially abused by a senior council officer

As a result of the report, the TUC urges employers to improve induction programmes and train workers in understanding and resisting racism