AN ASIAN woman was racially abused, pushed to the ground then kicked and punched by a group of girls who stole her mobile phone.

Now police and councillors have joined forces to appeal to residents to help hunt for the girls who tormented the woman as she walked home.

The 20-year-old was attacked by five or six girls on Monday evening as she walked across a grassed area near to China Street in Accrington.

The gang, who shouted racial abuse at her before pushing her to the ground and repeatedly kicking and punching her, ran off with her Orange Nokia 3310 mobile phone.

A spokesman for Accrington CID said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the woman. "We need the community's help. to think about whether they know anything and report it to us.

"This was an attack on an innocent woman who was just walking home."

Police are also hoping to use the TALK initiative in the area -- which allows residents to tip off police about events and gossip -- to help catch the gang. Their descriptions have yet to be released by police. County Councillor Jean Battle, whose ward includes the area, said: "I would call on the public to help the police on this one.

"We should all feel a responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen again. Racial abuse simply cannot be tolerated. People get on with each other here and we don't want that to change."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Accrington CID on 01254 353743.