FIVE young people have been arrested in connection with a racial incident involving a 17-year-old Asian youth.

Detectives say the victim was cycling home from work along Spring Lane at Canterbury when he was approached by a group of youths, both male and female. After cycling into Russet Road he was assaulted and verbally abused by the group.

A short time later, in Pearmain Walk, the boy was approached by a man on a moped who hit the victim with a crash helmet before punching him in the face. A second man then ran up and punched the boy again and he lost consciousness for a period.

While the victim was being treated by ambulance staff, his father arrived at the scene and was also assaulted by a man but received no injuries.

The 17-year-old was taken to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital and treated for injuries, including a black eye and other facial bruises. He was later discharged.

The police want to speak to anyone who was in Russet Road, Pearmain Walk, Discovery Walk or Kent Avenue and witnessed these incidents which happened on Saturday, September 3, at around 10pm. Anyone with information is asked to contact Canterbury CID, telephone number 01227 817154 and ask to speak to DC Andy Bidmead.

* Two males, aged 16 and 18, and three females, two aged 16 and the other 17, have been bailed by police until the October 5.