POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two children were racially abused by a driver on their way home from school.

At around 5.10pm on Thursday, July 14 a 13-year-old girl and her 14-year-old brother were walking along Worcester Road in Bromsgrove when a driver pulled over next to them and called them racially abusive names through the car window.

The victims, who said the car was grey, told their parents who then reported the incident to police.

Their mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "They were quite shocked, and they were a bit worried about walking from school the next day.

"The police were very good and responded straight away. There has been an increase in hate crimes over the last couple of months, whether it's because of Brexit I do not know."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact West Mercia Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A spokesperson for the force said: "West Mercia Police takes all reports of hate crime seriously and we would urge anyone who feels that they have been a victim to report it."