A TRAIN guard was racially abused and punched in the second incident at a railway station in three days.

British Transport Police said the incident happened at Blackburn station at around 3.30pm on Wednesday.

A member of staff at the station was asked if he had a complaint form and the rail worker told him where to go in the building to get one.

He was then attacked and punched several times and had racial abuse shouted at him before the man ran off.

A transport police spokesman said: “When the guard said the man had to go upstairs, the offender became aggressive and hit him on the arm a number of times, before racially abusing him.

“The victim was uninjured but was shaken up, it was very disturbing for him.”

This is the second incident at Blackburn station this week after threats were made to staff on Sunday night.

Police said a group of teenagers ‘verbally abused and threatened’ members of staff after they were refused travel at around 7.20pm.

No arrests were made in connection with either incident and an appeal has been made for people to come forward with information.

Cllr Damian Talbot, a senior councillor on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the incidents were ‘truly shocking’.

He said: “It is very disturbing that staff are being subjected to this sort of abuse and behaviour.

“The railway station is a very busy place and a key site in the town centre.

“Staff are there providing help and a vital service to help members of the public using the rail services.

“For them to then face this sort of abuse is truly shocking.”

Earlier this year a former teacher has been jailed for shouting racist abuse at a rail inspector who asked to see his ticket.

Paul Dugdale, of Hartley Street, Burnley was jailed for 16 weeks after pleading guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour.

He was on the train from Manchester to Clitheroe when was ordered off the train at Blackburn after shouting the abuse.

Contact police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.