I amwriting to share a distressing and disturbing incident with readers.

On Tuesday night at a bus stop opposite my house, a young Oriental man was surrounded by a group of approximately 10-15 young boys, of age range between 12 and 17 years (I would estimate).

They taunted "Where's your visa?", "Go home", "Paedo" and various four-letter expletives. This young man was obviously terrified; he stood there and cried. Still the group continued.

My partner was unloading our car, watching the dreadful scenario develop. He asked the boys to go home and leave the young man alone. The group seemed intent on staying.

I, with a sick baby upstairs, was enraged and ran to our front door and shouted at the boys again to go home. They then slowly dispersed, splitting into little groups and disappearing down side streets.

The police arrived and kindly drove the young man home, who was clearly shaken.

This incident has left me so upset. What if no one had intervened? The possible consequences are awful to contemplate.

In this current climate of war-mongering and anti-foreigner feeling, I urge people to intervene in any way they feel appropriate, be it a phone call to the police or just calmly saying something to defuse a situation.

Where is our nation's reputation for acceptance and racial tolerance?

Brighton and Hove enjoys huge financial gain from our foreign visitors. Do we want our city to have a reputation of unchallenged racism? I sincerely hope not.

-Louise Bray-Allen, Elm Grove, Brighton