A WOMAN was racially abused by a man as she walked down a city centre street.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man hurled racially abusive comments towards the victim at the junction of Milton Road and Carlton Road in Southampton.

Officers say the victim witnessed a man being abusive to another woman before she crossed the road in a distressed state. The offender then made racially abusive comments towards the victim.

The man police want to speak to is described as white, aged around 30, of medium build with messy brown hair, and was wearing a green jacket with a hood.

The woman he was abusing before he made the comments is white, aged in her late 20s to early 30s, with long brunette hair, and was wearing a blue dress.

The incident happened at around 5.30pm on Friday.

PC Glen Knight said: “I am appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the offender abusing the two women at the junction of Milton Road and Carlton Road.

"I would also like to speak to the woman in the blue dress as she may have vital information to assist our inquiry.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.