An Asian housekeeping assistant is claiming racial discrimination against a Sussex hospital trust.

Feroze Ali accused managers at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust of making him work on wards other staff called 'nice and smelly', an employment tribunal heard.

He also claimed managers at Worthing Hospital were more particular about his time-keeping and general conduct than they were with other employees.

But housekeeping supervisor Susan Saunders, senior housekeeping supervisor Linda Woodward and Trevor Hayles, who was tendered services manager at the hospital until June, all denied discrimination.

When asked by Mr Ali's solicitor Stuart Markless if they treated Mr Ali differently from other employees, they all replied "No".

Mr Ali refused a £2,500 settlement on Wednesday to press ahead with his claim.

His brother Sheeraz Ali, of no fixed address, made an undisclosed settlement with the trust in December after he also claimed to have been unfairly picked on because of his race.

Mr Ali was employed at the hospital as a cleaner and housekeeping assistant from September 1999 to March 2000.

His contract was not renewed in March after a catalogue of incidents including lateness, failure to follow instructions and unauthorised use of the telephone, the tribunal heard.

But Mr Ali claimed he did not realise lateness could lead to disciplinary procedures. He said on one occasion his pay was docked after he came to work four minutes late.

Mr Ali, of Shelley Road in Worthing, accused the trust of victimising him after he made the decision to go to a tribunal. But Mr Moon said Mr Ali had been told his contract would be terminated.

Mr Ali accused Mrs Saunders of shouting at him and causing him so much stress he could not do his job properly.

Mrs Saunders denied shouting at Mr Ali and said she never shouted at any of her staff.

Mr Ali was also accused of spending almost an hour and a half on the telephone during a two-week period making private calls to his mother.

He claimed he did not know he was not supposed to make private calls.

Tribunal chairman Ian Edwards said he would receive written submissions in seven days and would not make a decision until that.