A FORMER postman who was the centre of a major race row at an East Lancashire sorting office was warned to ‘watch his back’, an employment tribunal heard.

Abdul Musa, from Burnley, claims Royal Mail bosses failed to protect him from a culture of racist abuse and intimidation at Blackburn’s Canterbury Street postal centre, the Manchester hearing was told.

One worker, accused of mimicking Asian colleagues, was sacked and three colleagues were suspended after an internal probe at the Blackburn office.

But Mr Musa was himself kicked out of the service in 2007 after a counter-allegations were made against him by colleagues.

Giving evidence, he denied calling fellow Asian postal workers ‘cockroaches and vermin’ and several sexual misconduct claims.

The episode pushed the Blackburn sorting office to the brink of strike action in support of the sacked postman, Christopher Eccles, and three suspended colleagues.

Mr Musa alleged that he was ‘sent to Coventry’ over the incident, in 2006 and 2007, and repeatedly complained to management that he was being isolated and ignored by workmates.

He claimed he was called by a colleague, whose voice he recognised, late at night on February 18, and told: “You want to watch your back.”

The ex-postie has accused Royal Mail of failing to support him, after he made his original complaint, and breaching his confidentiality.

He said details of his claims were handed around the sorting office for others to read, leading to further intimidation.

Mr Musa, who is claiming unfair dismissal, added: “None of my Asian colleagues stopped taking to me. If it had not be for their support the affect on my health would have been even worse.”

He claimed the allegations against him were an ‘act of revenge’ by colleagues after he highlighted racist culture at the sorting office.

The hearing continues.