A number of students have been expelled from Exeter University over vile racist and bigoted comments in a WhatsApp group branding people 'P***s', 'n*****s' and calling for a 'race war'.

Messages sent by members of the Bracton law society also made positive references to slavery and gang rape while also calling for the society to become 'whites-only'.

On one message they posted a picture of London Mayor Sadiq Khan posing at Spurs' White Hart Lane stadium in January this year with the messages 'I'm disgusted' and 'browns don't get it'.

The WhatsApp exchanges in the 'dodgy blokes society' group were also packed with references to 'sending black people home', 'dirty Arabs' and claimed a stabbing on a fellow student 'should have gone further'.

The messages are alleged to have been sent by students including Matthew Bell, Ash Chandraharan, Alex Crawford, James Cranstone and Bailey Grant, who are all members of the Russell Group university's prestigious law society.

Today it emerged that some of them have been expelled, suspended or received 'significant sanctions' from the university, who will not name who was thrown out by Vice Chancellor Sir Steve Smith.

Other Exeter students named budding lawyers Ash Chandraharan and Alex Crawford as among the group sending racist and offensive messages

Matthew Bell is the only person to apologise for his remarks. Bailey Grant is accused of writing a message about needing a 'race war'

James Cranstone, right, a second year Law student at Exeter University, allegedly wrote a message mentioning 'n***a sluts'

The messages were allegedly shared among members of the Bracton law sociey at Exeter

The messages were shared in a WhatsApp group for law society members and featured racist comments under a picture of London Mayor Sadiq Khan

It was reported earlier this year that one law firm had rescinded an offer of employment to one of the students involved, Matthew Bell.

Mr Bell is the only one of the men involved to apologise for his messages, according to The Tab.

Bell's messages on the group chat included: 'Browns don't get it', 'He's such a stupid little a*** licking p**i' and 'Being chased by a n****r is every man's worst nightmare.'

He said: 'I will not attempt to excuse and deny any of the statements I have made. The comments, which I shall not repeat, are inexcusable and undeniably wrong.

'I would like to make it publicly known that I do not honestly believe any of the things I have said.'

The elected pro-bono officer of the Bracton Law Society, Alex Crawford, said in one message that 'you only need to go as far as Mauritania to get slaves'.

Co-captain of the society's football team Ash Chandraharan, who was also running to be the society's general secretary wrote that he would 'lead the charge against his own colour'.

Former Waitrose worker James Cranstone, a second year Law student, told the group: 'Guess who got a placement n***a sluts'.

And first year Bailey Grant said: 'This is why we need a race war. Sorry Ash, sacrifices have to be made, nothing personal.'

He was a tutor at Explore Learning and a Secretary at EC Obstetric Legal & Training Limited. He went to Sutton Grammar School for Boys before going to study Law at Exeter.

James Cranstone, second year Law student, told the group, 'guess who got a placement n***a sluts.'

According to his LinkedIn, James is from Surrey and works as a Customer Service Assistant at Waitrose

Bailey Grant, first year Law student, tells the rest of the group, 'this is why we need a race war. Sorry Ash [Chandraharan], sacrifices have to be made, nothing personal.'

Student Arsalan Motavali played a leading role in exposing the 'racism that I've experienced' at the university. Exeter did not say which students had been expelled or suspended

Mr Motavali then took screenshots of the messages before posting them on Facebook, where they have been shared hundreds of thousands of times

In a letter to students, university vice-chancellor Professor Sir Steve Smith condemned the 'unacceptable and bigoted' behaviour of some students

Student Arsalan Motavali played a leading role in exposing the 'racism that I've experienced' at the university having published many of the messages online.

He said he initially created the chat group in 2017 but was removed as admin as it was taken over by other students.

Mr Motavali then took screenshots of the messages before posting them on Facebook, where they have been shared hundreds of thousands of times.

In a letter to students, university vice-chancellor Professor Sir Steve Smith condemned the 'unacceptable and bigoted' behaviour of some students.

He said: 'These are very severe consequences, which have not been reached lightly, but there is no place at our university for any type of racist, bigoted, abusive or harrassing behaviour.

'I would like to thank those staff and students that have spoken out and come forward to share their experiences.'

The repercussions of the incident are being felt around the university as the society has now cancelled its end of year gala, apologising for 'the actions of a few individuals [which] have negatively impacted our members.'

The society wrote on Facebook: 'Following discussions with the University of Exeter's Students' Guild, we have reached the decision that it is no longer appropriate for us to hold our annual End of Year Gala in light of what has transpired.'

Law firm Hill Dickinson confirmed it had revoked the offer of employment for Matthew Bell, who was due to start work in September 2019.

The WhatsApp exchanges include references to 'sending black people home', use of the most racist pejorative terms, the phrases 'dirty Arabs' and 'if you aint English goes home' and references a stabbing which the messages say should have gone further

Hill Dickinson LLP law firm - where Matthew Bell was due to start work - has now confirmed it has revoked his offer of employment in light of the slurs

The WhatsApp exchanges say the Bracton Law Society should be for 'whites only' with references to 'sending black people home, 'dirty Arabs' and 'if you aint English go home'

Law students have been reportedly expelled from Exeter University over claims they made racist comments in a WhatsApp group

It added: 'We are deeply disturbed by the messages that were brought to our attention last night and would like to stress that the views expressed by the individual and others involved in this matter do not in any way represent the views of this firm and and we absolutely do not condone this behaviour.'

A university spokesman did not reveal how many students have been expelled or suspended following the incidents in March. The decisions are subject to appeal.

The law society said it had decided to remove those involved from the committee - and 'indefinitely ban all those involved from the society'.

The Student's Guild said it has a 'zero tolerance' policy to racism.