A WOMAN was attacked with stones during a racial attack on a canal boat.

Police have issued a warning after a woman was victim to racial abuse by a group of youths on a canal boat in Barnoldswick earlier this week.

The attack came after she asked the group to stop throwing stones at cygnets.

Instead they turned their attention to the woman and threw several stones at her boat.

Officers have highlighted the incident as just one of several which have occurred in West Craven in the last seven days.

One of the other major incidents included a group of youths climbing onto shop roofs on Water Street, Earby.

A similar incident occurred last week when a nine-year-old boy in Blackburn fell through a roof causing serious injury, who is now in a coma.

PSCO Mark Hyde said this behaviour is 'totally unacceptable' and enquiries are ongoing into both incidents.

Speaking on Colne and West Craven Police Facebook page, he said: "All the youths involved in these incidents are aged 13-16 years of age and I would ask all parents to be aware of what their children are doing when they are out of the house.

"This behaviour is totally unacceptable and the local police team will deal with offenders."