Emmerdale has been rocked with fresh race row claims as a security guard who worked on staff was fired for alleged ‘offensive and racist’ remarks.

Former soldier Duane Gardner, 49, was fired following a disciplinary hearing in which it was claimed he had insulted a group of Chinese tourists and ranted about the Qu’ran.

Colleagues had made grievance claims alleging the veteran, who worked on the ITV soap for two years, made ‘offensive and racist’ comments in the security office.

Gardner says he feels ‘victimised’ as their claims were never fully proven, but a report cited an ‘onset car crash’ as the reason for his sacking, reports The Sun.

The fallout comes just months after long-standing Emmerdale stars Matthew Wolfenden and Isabel Hodgins were embroiled in a ‘heated on-set race row’.

The actors were both left out of scenes from the ITV soap in September, following claims that ‘the accent of a mixed-raced actress was mimicked’ on set.

The unnamed actress was upset following an inappropriate comment made towards her, before it was claimed her accent was mocked during the fall out.

Afghanistan veteran Duane, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, appeared before an ITV disciplinary panel, who fired him from his Minimal Risk Consultancy role – the security firm who provided contracted staff to Emmerdale.

Duane told the hearing: ‘I find it astonishing I was fired when that saga with the actors was brushed under the carpet.

‘I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong’, he added.

MRC reportedly told the Sun that they ‘did not recognise’ his version of events.  ITV has been contacted to provide comment.