But the Nevis Bank Hotel at the centre of the row has itself been targeted, with claims by a member of staff that racist graffiti was plastered over walls in two of the gent's toilets.

The staff member who did not want to be named said that on March 29, the toilets in the bar and lounge were "completely trashed." It is believed the incident was caused by a member of the public, not staff.

However, whilst a Northern Constabulary spokesman confirmed an investigation is underway, he said there was no suggestion it was racially motivated."

The race row erupted and has lead to staff demanding an apology from Mohammad Iftikar, former co-owner of the hotel after he made comments in a recent Lochaber News article revealing how staff are leaving the hotel in droves because they are not getting paid in time.

Some staff claimed they were being forced to fork out money from their own pockets to pay suppliers as there was not enough in the accounts and that when some workers finally received wages the cheques bounced. Employees who had left, claimed they were still owed money and had not received P45 forms to give to new employers.But in a bizarre twist Mr Iftikar said the reason the hotel was in a "mess" was because staff were "racists" and "thieves". He also admitted staff were told there was no money for wages to force them to quit.

This week, former Nevis Bank employee Tracy Winder told the LN: "Mr Iftikar's comments were absolutely shocking and he must apologise for the hurt caused.

"To be described as a racist is possibly one of the worst slurs ever. I worked in that hotel for 11 years and to be described, along with others, as a 'bad egg' and a 'thief' is completely outrageous."

Ms Winder, who now works in a local supermarket, said she was still owed holiday pay two months after leaving and to date has not yet received a P45.

"Mr Iftikar, in the LN article, promised that outstanding payments would be sorted. However, there has been no progress for myself or a number of others."

Another woman, who is still employed at the hotel, but wished to remain anonymous, said: "I'm still waiting for payslips from November.

"There is also no sign of our P60s for the last financial year and I know some people who have left who still need their P45s. The comments calling us racists and thieves were shocking. Since the story broke we've had to put up with comments locally about Mr Iftikar's remarks. They are mostly good humoured, but sometimes they have been snide.

"He must apologise."

Former kitchen porter Angus Ferguson, from Inverlochy, added he was still waiting for wage slips for his final three months of employment and also a P45. He left in December but had to wait until February to get his wages.

He said: "It was a total nightmare and meant my children suffered at Christmas because I hadn't received my money."

The LN contacted Mr Iftikar to ask him if he would retract the statements he made.

Initially, the Glasgow-based businessman said he stood by his comments "110 per cent".

He said: "When I last spoke I said what was in my heart. I am 110 per cent sure these people are thieves and racists."

However, when pressed he admitted he had not witnessed any thieving and changed his mind about staff being racist.

He said: "I heard from Eric Harrison (the current owner of the hotel) the staff were thieves. He said he had witnessed it and staff had stolen from tills, but I did not see it with my own eyes. I will retract my previous statement about the staff being racist and I apologise."

Eric Harrison, who was in the same room as Mr Iftikar when he made his original statements last month, was unavailable for comment.

s.taylor@lochaber-news.co.uk

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