'Political correctness' forced a councillor out of his job, according to a race relations expert.

County Hall Councillor Rhys Goodwin resigned from a role that overseas diversity issues after using the word "nigger" in front of a black member of staff.

The Conservative member, who represents Toddington, used the phrase "nigger in the woodpile" during a debate while he sat only a few feet from Basil Jackson, the black assistant director for highways and transport at Beds County Council.

Mr Goodwin, 74, immediately rephrased his comments, apologised to Mr Jackson during a break and later stepped down as chairman of the county council's community services committee which deals with community cohesion matters.

He remains a serving councillor, but Jim Thakoordin, former county councillor and chair of the Luton committee on racial harmony, said he should not have resigned his post.

"It's the wrong thing to say, but it in this world of political correctness we expect 110 per cent of political correctness from everyone and life is simply not like that," Mr Thakoordin said.

"Things do slip out unintentionally in the heat of discussion and debate. It's the wrong thing to say, but the councillor did the right thing and apologised right away.

"He's a victim of political correctness and a society that's not prepared to give and take a little."

Mr Goodwin dropped the clanger at a meeting of the environment services overview and scrutiny committee before rephrasing his point.

"It was an outdated statement, which I corrected immediately," Mr Goodwin said.

"I am very sorry it was used. In today's situation, we have to be more careful in politics. There was no racist intent at all.

"For 50 years of my life that was common parlance, with no more a derogatory connotation than the symbol on a jar of marmalade."