A SALESMAN claims he was hauled off a plane amid fears he was a terrorist - after suspicions were raised over his choice of music.

Harraj Mann had boarded the Bmi Baby aircraft from Durham Tees Valley Airport to London Heathrow when plain-clothes officers climbed on board to escort him off.

The 24-year-old said he thought they were "taking the mick", but realised they were serious when they took him to an interview room for questioning.

After two or three hours of questioning last Thursday night, Mr Mann was finally allowed to go home, free of all charges.

However, he missed his flight and had to pay £30 taxi fare back home to Hartlepool, before returning the next day for a different flight.

The mobile phone salesman, who lives with his mother in the Rossmere area of Hartlepool, said he was told that his choice of music on his personal stereo, which included London Calling by The Clash and The Beatles' Nowhere Man, had raised suspicions.

He said he was only going to London to stay with relatives and do some shopping.

"I am 100 per cent British and have lived in Hartlepool for 22 years," said Mr Mann.

"I'm Asian, but I'm the most non-Indian person I know. Sometimes I forget that I look Indian. I do everything that every other Hartlepool person does. I had a bacon sandwich this morning.

"It was very embarrassing and I thought it was preposterous."

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "Safety is paramount and we respond to concerns from members of the public in the way they would expect us to. In this case, the report was made with the best of intentions and we would not want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns."

Bmi Baby and the airport did not comment.