A MUM has been left feeling “heartbroken” after she says she was racially abused by a fellow parent while dropping her four-year-old daughter off at school.

The 25-year-old, who lives in Colchester, parked her car outside her daughter’s school in Shrub End on Thursday morning.

Due to being in a rush, however, the doting mum positioned her vehicle on double yellow lines, which subsequently angered an onlooking man with a dog.

She then says she was approached by the aggressive parent, who claimed to be a traffic warden, before he proceeded to swear at her and call her the N-word.

The victim, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “I understand I should not have parked there but in no way did I deserve that – it was absolutely horrendous.

“I am beyond livid people like him think they can still do this and I am heartbroken my beautiful little brown skin girl has to go to school with kids that parents like that.

“I have spoken to the headteacher and she reported it to the police as a hate crime, as I believe I was not the only one.”

Essex Police now confirmed they are now investigating the incident as a hate crime.

A spokesman for the police said: "We are investigating an allegation of public order reported to have taken place at Baronswood Way, Colchester, at 8.55am on October 6.

"It follows a verbal altercation. We are treating it as a hate crime and our enquiries continue."

Hate crimes are defined as any incident perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic, such as race, religion and disability.

According to figures published earlier this year by Essex Police, 4,621 hate crimes were recorded in the county in the 12 months to the end of May.

This makes for a 21 per cent increase when compared to the 3,804 reports of hate crimes received by police in the 12 months to May 2021.

Police, however, say the increase actually reflects the confidence victims in Essex now have when it comes to calling out prejudice.

Since the shocking ordeal, the Colchester mum has shared her story online in a bid to warn others in the area of the “scumbag man”.

She added: “I just want to thank everyone who sent their love – it is so very appreciated and it is nice to know there are people that do care.

“I have reported it, so hopefully he will not do it again to anybody else.”