Teenage boys who perpetrated a vile racial attack on a man and spat on a woman during a Lanarkshire train journey are being hunted by the British Transport Police. 

CCTV shows the group boarding the 6.20 pm Glasgow to Lanark service at Bellshill where they are reported to have acted in a rowdy and disorderly manner before alighting from the train at Motherwell.

Shortly after 6.45 pm the group of 10–12 boys aged between 14 and 17 years, shouted racially offensive remarks and threw objects at a 44-year-old man who was waiting on the platform at Motherwell station, before one of the group spat on a 25-year-old woman.

A fire extinguisher was also taken from the train and discharged around the station.

Detective Constable David Merchant, the BTP officer in charge of the enquiry, is appealing for information. He said: “This sort of appalling behaviour is unacceptable and I am appealing for anyone who was on the train or at the station and can provide information which can help identify the youths responsible to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016.”

Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.