A WOMAN hurled racially abusive comments at a teenage girl before grabbing her hair and punching her several times.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident in the Broadway area of Bridgwater.

The culprit had been sitting in the graveyard before she began to make the racially abusive comments and followed the victim, who was with a group of other people, along High Street.

She then pulled the victim's hair in Angel Place before punching her.

The victim did not require medical treatment at hospital following the incident at around 4.30pm to 5pm on Friday, March 19.

The woman was described as being in her mid-20s, approximately 5ft 5ins tall, slim, with long blonde hair with a ginger tinge, was wearing glasses and had a bum bag and a newspaper.

A woman, 30, has been arrested and released under investigation.

PC Steve Olsen said: “We are treating this as a hate crime.

"It is totally unacceptable for a 15-year-old girl to be subjected to racial abuse and our enquiries are continuing.

“We’d ask anyone who was in the area at the time and may be able to assist our investigation to get in touch – contact us online or call 101 and give reference number 5221059173.”

You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the charity's anonymous online form.