POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a racially aggravated assault in Gloucestershire.

Just after 4.30pm on Thursday a woman was talking on her phone as she walked along Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham.

Two men, hearing her speak a foreign language, started to shout racial abuse at her. They then blocked her path to the front and rear and began kicking her legs and back.  

The two suspects also tried to pull her rucksack from her back but she managed to escape down Tanners Lane before asking for help from an elderly lady in the street.

The two offenders are described as white males in their thirties. 

One had blonde hair and was wearing  jeans and red  jumper and the other, also wearing jeans, had dark blonde hair and was wearing a blue hoodie with the hood up.

Police would like to hear from the member of the public who the woman requested help from, or anyone who witnessed the incident or recognises the descriptions of the offenders. 

Please call 101 quoting incident number 85 of 27th February 2015.