An election candidate says she has been left "shocked and frightened" after suffering a tirade of racial abuse while out canvassing.

Labour's Raushan Ara was in Ramsgate High Street on Friday morning when she was approached by a man she described as "very drunk".

The suspect, who began shouting at the mum-of-two, followed Ms Ara into her restaurant, Ramsgate Tandoori, in Harbour Street.

"While I was canvassing I was approached by a very drunk man," said Ms Ara, who was also the Labour candidate for South Thanet in the 2017 General Election.

"He then began to verbally and racially abuse me. My colleagues and local people came to my protection driving him away.

"After 10 minutes, I went into Ramsgate Tandoori to meet a friend.

"I was shocked and frightened to find he had followed me and came into the restaurant where he continued to verbally abuse me.

"Luckily, I had my friend with me who attempted to calm him down. Due to all his shouting neighbouring shop owners came and finally got him to leave."

Police are investigating the report, which happened between 11.30am and midday.

But Ms Ara, standing for the Central Harbour Ward in Ramsgate, says the town has become "an antisocial hub due to drug and alcohol problems" and is calling for action.

"I was shocked and frightened to find he had followed me and came into the restaurant where he continued to verbally abuse me..." - Raushan Ara

She added: "As summer is coming we will have a lot of visitors and it is essential that our town centre is welcoming.

"The number of antisocial incidents greatly increases during summer, most fuelled by alcohol.

"We need a combination of dispersal order zones and more CCTV alongside community policing to create safer spaces.

"There is also the issue of safety for rough sleepers at night who are subject to abuse as more people come into the town.

"Ramsgate has seen a visible increase of rough sleepers and begging in the town centre. This is due to the ending of the Thanet Winter Shelter.

"The cycle of rough sleepers returning to the town each summer continues. Thanet council needs to provide long term solutions throughout the year not just for the winter."

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