A race row is threatening to engulf Croydon's first Afro-Caribbean festival after the council was accused of ignoring the black community and forcing an advisor to quit.

Darrell Davis said he has encountered resistance from the council since he was offered a contract to assist event organisers in January. He accused them of being "institutionally racist" and claimed he was told if he did not resign the festival may be cancelled.

The festival is the first to be held in Croydon after years of campaigning by the black community. Requests for an exclusive event were turned down by the previous Labour council administration.

He said: "They shunned all involvement from the black community, my involvement in particular. Only one councillor, Enley Taylor, has ever tried to help me. I was told that people I have never met had threatened to resign if I remained involved and, if I in stayed, there would be no festival.

To mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, the July event will replace the World Festival.

Mr Davis, who owns the Paradise Inn Caribbean restaurant in Norbury, added: "The festival is a great opportunity for the council and the black community to join together, but the council built a barrier."

The council hit back at Mr Davis's claims and blamed his conduct with other officers working on the project.

At a council meeting on Monday, leader Mike Fisher said: "I am aware of complaints about Mr Davis's alleged conduct over the course of his involvement with the project and have asked that these are looked into as a matter of urgency.

"This conduct undermined the festival team's confidence in his participation and the council was advised that, if he remained engaged, the show organiser would pull out, putting at jeopardy the whole two-day event. I am aware of allegations Mr Davis has made about the council's conduct, which I take very seriously and will respond to in due course."