A MASKED youth held a bread knife to the throat of a foreign student and hit another one in the head with a traffic cone during an incident in the street.

Detectives say the Czech youngsters had left the Marlowe Academy in Stirling Way, on Ramsgate's Newington estate, when they became the target of racial abuse.

A group of youths barracked, pushed and shoved them as they headed for the Hare and Hounds pub bus stop on the main Margate Road.

A boy of 12 suffered cuts and bruising when the traffic cone was rammed into his face. Three other Czech boys ran to a nearby newsagents and urged the shopkeeper to call the police.

They were followed by the youths and it was then that one boy was grabbed and had the knife held at his throat. The shopkeeper ran out and shouted at the attackers who ran off.

Any witnesses to the incident, which happened between 5pm and 5.30pm on Monday, March 5, are asked to contact Det Con Clare Walker on 01843 222089.