BLACK television talk show host Trisha Goddard has told how she was the victim of "nasty and overtly racist manhandling" by a taxi driver.Ms Goddard, 49, of Norwich, said the incident in Colchester earlier this month left her "shocked and upset”.

BLACK television talk show host Trisha Goddard has told how she was the victim of "nasty and overtly racist manhandling" by a taxi driver.

Ms Goddard, 49, of Norwich, said the incident in Colchester earlier this month left her "shocked and upset”.

She said she had reported to it the “relevant authorities”, although Essex Police was last night unable to confirm whether a complaint had yet been made.

Writing in a newspaper column, she said: "I had an experience which shook me to the core.

"I was on the receiving end of what I can only describe as nasty and overtly racist manhandling because a taxi driver didn't 'want my sort' in his cab.”

She added: "I was left shocked and upset on what should have been a joyous day. I'd been invited to a Westminster celebration of TV presenter June Sarpong's MBE.”

The incident happened on May 9, and rail services had been disrupted following the death of a woman at Kelvedon station.

London-bound trains were terminated at Colchester, which is where Ms Goddard said the incident happened.

She added: "I'm convinced I'm not the first person of colour to suffer at that cabby's hands but if I have my way I'm certainly going to be the last.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said last night she was unable to say whether the incident had been reported to officers.

But Ms Goddard said on the same day she had also encountered the “sweetest” side of human nature.

“On the journey back to Liverpool Street station, I poured my heart out to a black cab driver. His undisguised anger on my behalf surprised me.

“He was from the area where it had happened and gave me his card, saying that if I was ever stuck there again I should give him a call and he'd make up for this buffoon's nastiness by driving me to London free of charge,” she said.