A south Essex pub where a collection of dolls considered racist were seized by police should not be considered for real ale awards while they are on display, a campaign group says.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said its "clear" guidelines have been "seemingly ignored" and The White Hart Inn in Grays would not be considered for awards or the group's famous "good beer guide" until the golliwog dolls are removed.

A team of four police officers and one tutee attended the pub last week after a report of someone being "distressed" by the presence of the rag dolls, which are based on 18th century minstrels and now regarded as racist caricatures.

Owner Benice Ryley said she has displayed the collection, which she claims were donated by her late aunt and customers, in the pub for nearly 10 years, and vowed to put them back.

CAMRA took to Twitter to say: "CAMRA believes pubs should be welcoming and inclusive places and it's baffling that any pub would choose to discriminate against customers or potential customers by continuing to display offensive material.

"We have had clear national guidelines in place since 2018 that no pub should be considered for an award if it displays offensive or discriminatory material on the premises, or on social media associated with the pub.

"CAMRA has more than 200 branches, all of which make independent decisions about making numerous awards to pubs and breweries throughout the year.

"We are currently discussing why this guidance was seemingly ignored by our south west Essex branch and instructing them not to consider the White Hart for future awards, or inclusion in our Good Beer Guide, while these discriminatory dolls continue to be on display."

Essex Police said on Monday no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation and the force's enquiries are ongoing.

Mrs Ryley has hit back at allegations of racism, saying the pub frequently hosts Indian weddings, and said she does not understand how people could be offended by the dolls.

She told the PA news agency: “They’re my childhood history, it’s a part of our inheritance.

"I can’t see any harm.

“I really am angry because what they’ve taken away is valuable.”