THREE people, including a mother and daughter, are being hunted by police after racially abusing and then assaulting an Asian woman on a train.

Following a prolonged verbal tirade the 18-year-old woman was grabbed by her hair and dragged backwards before being slammed against some doors.

The woman was travelling with her friend on a train from Preston to Blackburn when the incident occurred.

Police Constable Steve Dav-ies, who is leading the inquiry for British Transport Police, said: “This type and level of abuse and violence is totally unacceptable and has no place on the railway.

“BTP is committed to tackling all forms of hate and race crime and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Police said a man and a woman sat opposite the friends and the man began making abusive comments.

As the train arrived in Blackburn and the friends got up to leave they were further insulted by a mother and her daughter who were also seated nearby.

The daughter then assaulted the woman.

The man who sat opposite the friends was described as being white, about 5ft8in tall, slim, with blonde hair and a gold tooth.

He was wearing a white jacket, white tracksuit and had several gold rings.

The mother who further abused the friends was white, 5ft3ins tall, had black curly hair and was dressed in black with dark make-up.

Her daughter, who carried out the assault, was about 18-21 years old, 5ft7in tall, had brown hair – tied back in a pony tail – and was wearing a blue and white tracksuit.

The incident happened at 1pm last Friday but police have only just released the details.

Anyone with information should call the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.