A former police officer forced to resign for referring to an Asian colleague in a racist way is being evicted from his police home.

Rick Pentith, a former Shipley-based community constable, has been given less than a month to quit the Police Authority-owned three-bedroom home in Bradford he shares with his wife, Lindsey, and their three children.

The Telegraph & Argus revealed in June how Mr Pentith had been 'required to resign' after 12 years for allegedly making the racist remark 'wog' about an Asian officer during a row over work rotas.

Joan Bentley, 60, of Shipley, a close family friend of Mr Pentith's who organised a 1,051-name petition calling for him to be reinstated, said: "The Police Authority has issued an eviction notice on Mr Pentith to quit his home by November 22.

"That gives him less than a month to find somewhere else to live - they've started looking for new accommodation but may end up homeless and having to live with family or friends if they don't find anything.

"What makes me really angry is that there's still an appeal pending so he shouldn't be evicted until the whole thing's completed.''

She added: "He and his family are totally devastated about this. Two of their children are at schools in the area and one only changed schools in November and now faces having to move again.''

Mr Pentith's friends and family have branded the decision to require him to resign as a politically correct over-reaction.

They have said even if the allegation - made by a third officer - was true, officers in other parts of the country had kept their jobs after more serious offences.

But the decision by a panel consisting of an assistant chief constable and two chief superintendents was later upheld by Chief Constable Graham Moore and Mr Pentith is now appealing to the Police Authority's independent police appeals tribunal.

A police spokesman confirmed Mr Pentith had been sent a letter requiring him to leave the house, adding: "It was not the force's intention to ask Mr Pentith to vacate his police house prior to the outcome of his appeal against dismissal. However, certain issues regarding rent for the property have precipitated this. Discussions are on-going, however, and it may be that this matter can be resolved.''