Racist taunts and attacks in schools in Kent have almost doubled in recent years.

The number of cases in Kent schools has risen from 596 between 2003 and 2004 to 901 between 2006 and 2007.

In Medway the figures were lower, with 243 racist incidents between 2006 and 2007.

The statistics were obtained from Kent and Medway councils using the Freedom of Information Act.

Verbal and physical abuse were the most common type of incident. Others ranged from threatened assaults and graffiti to attacks on property.

But Dev Sharma, director of North West Kent Racial Equality Council blames schools for failing to implement the right procedures, such as racial equality schemes, to deal with the problem of bullying.

~Listen: To Mr Sharma on why often the victims and not the perpetrators are being punished.>>>

He said: "Some of the schools are not introducing the guidance they were given from Kent County Council and staff are not being fully made aware of how this kind of bullying is affecting people.”

Mr Sharma said eastern Europeans, black Africans and south east Asians were the main ethnic minorities targeted in schools.

Mark Ogle, a spokesman from the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "All children and teachers have the right to learn and work in an environment free from discrimination.

"Good race equality policies help to ensure this is the case so that if a child is subjected to racist, or other bullying, teachers have a coherent framework of procedures to follow.

"It also gives parents and children confidence to report such incidents, knowing there are specific measures for the school to take."