A racially-aggravated incident was reported in Epsom on Saturday morning (May 11).

Surrey Police said they were investigating after a woman reported receiving racist abuse from two men on Sandy Mead in Epsom around 7am on Saturday.

Surrey Police described the incident in further detail in a statement released Monday afternoon (May 13).

A spokesperson said: "Two men on a moped tooted the horn and made a racially abusive comment and gesture towards a woman as she was walking along Sandy Mead just after 7am.

"The men were dressed in black and wore helmets covering their faces. They were riding a silver moped."

After appealing for any information that could help their investigators find out more about the incident, Surrey Police issued a string condemnation of racism and hate crime and urged the public to help them combat it.

"Hate crime will not be tolerated in Surrey. Surrey’s profile of hate crime is constantly developing and we rely on those affected coming forward and making reports.

"Victims having the confidence in both themselves and us to make reports is incredibly important if we are to know the true extent of hate crime in our county," Surrey Police said.

Incidents of hate crime is on the rise in England and Wales according to the latest government data.

Official Home Office statistics revealed that in the year 2017-18, there were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 17 per cent compared with the previous year.

Surrey Police reminded residents that if they or someone else had been targeted by a hate crime, they did not need to "suffer in silence."

Report hate crime either by calling 101, 999 in an emergency, call the Stop Hate UK helpline on 0800 138 1625 or download the Surrey Stop Hate UK app on the Apple and Google app stores.

Residents can also help police with their investigation into the incident described above.

If you saw a vehicle or person matching the above description, or you were in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious, you can call Surrey Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) quoting reference PR/45190049000.

You can also give information, 100 per cent anonymously, to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111; or through their anonymous online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org/