Police are appealing for witnesses after an incident in Yateley on Wednesday, September 23.

Between 1.30pm and 1.55pm two men were walking along Reading Road adjacent to the grassy area of Stilwell Close.

The men were approached by a group of youths riding bikes who shouted homophobic abuse at them.

The men then said they were calling the police and the group split up and two of them went towards Stilwell Close.

PC Noel Griffiths, of the Yateley Targeted Patrol Team, said: “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and we are taking the matter seriously.

“The incident happened in the afternoon near to a busy main road and it would have been witnessed by a number of people.

“The penalties for hate crimes are severe and if convicted, the offender could end up with a criminal record.

“The people who commit these acts may think it is amusing and just a bit of fun but it can have a serious impact on the victim’s quality of life.

“We would ask anyone with information or anyone who knows who is responsible to contact police as soon as possible.”