When Paolo Grottanelli (pictured) read the message he said his eyes welled up with tears

A man given a job as a waiter based on his CV alone had the offer cancelled - when the employer realised he was black.

Paolo Grottanelli, 29, was snapped up to work for the summer at a hotel in Cervia, Italy, after sending an application featuring a black-and-white photograph of himself.

But once he sent his ID to the manager at the resort - which is on the Adriatic Sea in Emilia-Romagna region - he was told: 'I can't put coloured guys in the dining area'.

Grottanelli, who was born in Sao Paulo in Brazil but adopted by a Milanese couple when he was three, said he 'couldn't believe it' when he received the text, The Local reported.

Pictured: Grottanelli, who was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil but was adopted by a Milanese couple when he was three

The full message, which he received just as he was preparing to move to Cervia in June, read: 'I'm sorry Paolo, but I can't put coloured guys in the dining area.

'In Romagna, many people have a backward mindset. Sorry, but I can't make you travel down. Bye.'

Grottanelli said he read the message 30 times while his eyes welled up with tears.

He said his instinct was to phone the manager and protest about 'this violation of human rights'.

The manager told him that 'in Romagna, many people have a backward mindset'. Pictured: Cervia, in the Emilia-Romagna region

But instead, he has been given the backing of the Filcams Cgil tourism industry union to take legal action - as well as mum Paola.

The union said simply: 'It's racism'.

It added: 'The financial damage caused by losing out on the seasonal job is compounded by the humiliation and profound injustice of which Paolo is a victim.'

Another group - the Ascom hotel association - is also supporting Grottanelli.