A gang of thugs hurled stones and abuse at French students trying to board a bus.

The attack was witnessed by veteran actress Dora Bryan who was enjoying an evening walk when she heard screams coming from Brighton beach.

A gang of around six teenagers set upon French students as they boarded a bus near Peter Pan's Playground in Madeira Drive.

The thugs, five girls and one boy aged between 13 and 15, hurled stones at the coach and screamed "frogs, go home" at the terrified students as their double-decker coach pulled away.

Miss Bryan, who plays Ros in Last of the Summer Wine, was out with her husband Bill and their Tibetan terrier Lottie when she saw the attack at 8.20pm on Tuesday.

She said: "It was just disgusting.

"We were walking along the upper walkway which looks down on to the beach when we saw what was happening. They weren't just throwing pebbles, they were boulders. There was broken glass everywhere.

A passer-by rang police on his phone as the drunken gang made their way along the beach towards the Palace Pier.

Dora, said: "The bus stopped and we waited for ages but the police didn't turn up so they had to leave.

"The teacher in charge said she had seen more and more aggression each time she comes to England and she said she wouldn't be coming back.

"I apologised to her on our behalf but this behaviour is no good for Brighton and it's no good for Britain."

The passer-by said: "It was a shocking sight."

Police were today trying to contact a teacher of the school who only left a mobile phone number when he called.

A force spokeswoman appealed for anyone who saw the gang to contact police.