A teenager was racially abused by a driver who was forced to stop after a football fell into the road.

It happened in Green Street in Chorleywood at around 3.40pm on June 24 after the 14-year-old boy stepped into the road in front of a driver to fetch his ball.

The driver reportedly got out of his Volkswagen Golf and tried to assault the boy with a set of keys between his fingers.

The boy was then subjected to racial abuse and so was a 13-year-old boy who was walking past the zebra crossing at the junction of Shire Lane.

Police are treating the incident as a racially aggravated assault and are appealing for information and witnesses.

PC Matt Gregory, who is investigating, said: "Firstly, I would like to stress that Hertfordshire Constabulary will not tolerate racism and we are doing everything we can to trace the offender.

"The offender is described as a white man with a bald head and stubble. He was driving a black vehicle, believed to be a Volkswagen Golf, and was wearing a blue chequered shirt.

"After subjecting the boys to verbal abuse, he made off in his vehicle, travelling up Green Street and towards Amersham Road/A404.

"This was a really distressing incident for the boys and I am appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch. If you were driving in the area and have a dash cam fitted to your vehicle, I urge you to check it and get in touch if you spot something that might help the investigation.

"You can get in touch by calling the non-emergency number 101 or email me at Matt.Gregory@herts.police.uk quoting crime reference 41/47760/21."

Anyone can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact.

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