Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was assaulted in Castle Park, Colchester, earlier this month.

The incident occurred between 5.15pm and 5.30pm on Tuesday, 8 April, near the public conveniences at the rear of Holly Trees. A group of up to seven teenagers, believed to be around 15 years old, are alleged to have verbally abused the woman before throwing a rock at her.

Descriptions provided by the victim state that one girl was dressed in an all-pink outfit, while a boy in the group was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a dark hoodie.

Essex Police confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said:

We are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have CCTV, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area at the time, to get in touch. Your information could be crucial to our investigation.

How to Provide Information:

• Submit a report via the Essex Police website
• Use the Live Chat service available 24/7 on the homepage
• Call 101, quoting crime reference 42/47708/25
• In an emergency, always call 999
• To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

Essex Police continue to work closely with the local community to address incidents of hate crime and ensure the safety of all residents.