A Jewish family - including young children - were attacked by a gang of youths who hurled stones at them as they sat on a beach.

The victims were playing on the beach at Minster on the Isle of Sheppey when the incident took place on Sunday.

The parents and their five children, aged between eight and 15, were subjected to racist abuse during the attack.

The attackers are believed to be two boys and three girls, aged in their late teens.

The family have cut short their holiday and returned home to London.

Police have come under fire for not sending officers to the scene when the victims contacted them.

Matthew Scott, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, is calling for an urgent view on the police handling of the situation.

He said: "Appalling news. I will be having this urgently reviewed. I take all hate crimes seriously and want people to come forward have confidence."

The North East London branch of Shomrim - a charity organisation which supports victims and acts as a proactive neighbourhood watch group - is supporting the family.

It has questioned why officers were not immediately dispatched despite the victims remaining in the area for 30 minutes.

A spokesman for Kent Police told KentOnline: "Kent Police was called at 4.10pm on Sunday 28 May 2017 to a report of an assault at Minster Beach, Isle of Sheppey.

"During the call the informant left the scene and officers deemed there was no further risk.

"As the informant is from outside of the county, police are arranging a suitable time to speak to the informant in due course. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about the incident can call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 28-0929."

The attack has been condemned, with Tom Tugendhat - Conservative candidate for Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling - taking to Twitter to label it 'disgraceful.'