A FIVE-year-old boy was kicked in the stomach by a woman in broad daylight on Saturday in what police are calling a racist attack.

The woman claimed she had been hit by a twig which the boy was playing with as he and his mother and her two other children passed her near the Palace Theatre in Grove Street at about 2pm.

The mother was then racially abused by the attacker and another woman, before she was slapped across the face and the boy kicked. He fell to the ground crying.

The first woman is white, about 5ft 3ins tall, in her 30s and of medium build. She had shoulder-length fair hair, a ring in her nose and a pierced lip. She had a round face and was wearing a tight fitted cream jacket and dark trousers.

The second woman was also white, in her 30s, about 5ft 3 ins tall and of medium build. She was pushing a dark pushchair or buggy and had a pale complexion and brown hair.

The mother and son did not need hospital treatment but were shaken by the incident.

Immediately afterwards, an Asian woman walked past the two groups and police are appealing for her to contact either Pc Sophie Hughes or DC Doug Turland from the Hate Crime Unit.

Anyone with information can call 08457 444 888.