A Lewisham police officer has been fired after “racist and discriminatory” text messages were found on his mobile phone.

Another officer from the armed unit which guards Parliament and politicians was also sacked for the same offence.

PC George Cooper, who worked for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit (SO6), and Lewisham-based PC Stephen Newbury were caught by officers from the Met Police's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) working on Operation Alice, the investigation into the 2012 Plebgate affair, a Scotland Yard spokeswoman said.

PC Newbury was found to have sent 24 improper text messages to another officer and PC Cooper eight, with the Met Police saying: "The messages were described as racist and discriminatory in tone and content."

PC Newbury was also discovered to have asked another officer to conduct a Police National Computer check on his car for personal reasons, Scotland Yard said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Fiona Taylor, from the DPS, said: "We, and the public, expect our officers to maintain the highest possible standards of behaviour.

"The content of the text messages being exchanged between these officers was not only highly inappropriate and discriminatory but in direct contradiction of the values of the MPS.

"There is no place for officers who hold racist views in London's police service."

The men were sacked following a disciplinary hearing.

Scotland Yard said that PC Newbury breached its standards in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, discreditable conduct, confidentiality and orders and instructions.

Cooper was found to have breached standards relating to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, discreditable conduct and challenging and reporting improper conduct.

The Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit was until recently called the Diplomatic Protection Group.

According to the Met Police website it provides "overt armed protection in the Capital" and is responsible for protecting the Government, former prime ministers, London's domestic and foreign diplomatic community and buildings, and visiting heads of state and politicians.

Plebgate was the name given to the furore around Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell after he was accused of being rude to police in Downing Street.

Complaints that the then government chief whip abused officers first emerged in The Sun in September 2012 and he later resigned.

It also resulted in a police officer being convicted of misconduct in public office and the dismissal of a number of other officers.