A man pelted Muslim worshippers at a mosque with eggs in a racist attack.

The assault happened during the Muslim festival of Ramadan as worshippers entered the Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society, on Hook Road.

The incident, described by police as a racially aggravated assault, took place at about 11.15pm on Sunday August 30.

Visitors had been attending evening prayers in the build-up to Ramadan when several vehicles drove by and hurled eggs as men, women and children left the mosque.

After a tip-off from the community, a 20-year-old man, from Epsom, was arrested on Tuesday, September 1.

At the time of going to press he remained in custody where police said he was helping detectives with their enquiries.

Epsom and Ewell Neighbourhood Inspector Ailsa Quinlan said: “We will not tolerate this behaviour and we always treat any form of hate crime as a serious offence.

“Following the incident on Sunday evening, we increased our police presence at the mosque, which enabled us to act quickly and robustly in making this arrest.

“I would like to encourage members of the Muslim community who have suffered a hate crime to report it to us.”

The Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society was formed in 1997 and now has more than 400 members.

Every day during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calender, Muslims around the world refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured from dawn until sunset every day.

Did you see or hear anything in relation to this incident? If so, call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference EP/09/4114, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

For more local crime stories like this, visit epsomguardian.co.uk