TWO petrified young brothers are too scared to leave their house today after suffering a tirade of racist threats from a man on a bus.The boys aged ten and 11 were subjected to a torrent of abuse by a man who swore at them, told them to go back to their own country and threatened to stab them.

TWO petrified young brothers are too scared to leave their house today after suffering a tirade of racist threats from a man on a bus.

The boys aged ten and 11 were subjected to a torrent of abuse by a man who swore at them, told them to go back to their own country and threatened to stab them.

Today their mother, who did not want to be named to protect her sons' identities said she was disgusted and horrified by the man's actions.

She said: “The boys have been unable to sleep without having nightmares ever since. They have been crying every night and are too scared to go outside.”

The boys who are mixed race had boarded the bus at the Tower Ramparts bus station in Ipswich at around 4pm on November 18 on their way home from schools in the east of the town.

Once the bus driver had been alerted to the incident, security were called and the man who was aged around 30 was thrown off the bus.

Suffolk police is now investigating and are calling on witnesses to the incident too come forward.

The man is white with dark hair and was wearing blue jeans and a grey top.

Gita Banerji, a race equality officer for Ipswich and Suffolk, said: “We condemn any behaviour of this sort and would encourage victims to report the crimes to the police and / or the racial harassment initiative.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has a good prosecution rate for these sorts of offences which is encouraging for victims.

“It should also be stressed that even if no-one is prosecuted, it is still important to report the offence because it helps us to gauge what is happening in the area.”

Anyone who witnessed the racist assault, saw the man being thrown off the bus or knows who the man is should contact the investigating police officer, Pc Phil Howard on Ipswich 613500.

Suffolk County Council's racial harassment initiative, multi language helpline can be contact 24 hours a day, free of charge on 0800 1381643.

n. Have you been a victim of racial abuse? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk