POLICE are hunting a gang of racist thugs who stubbed out a cigarette on a teenage boy’s face and broke his arm.

Two Asian brothers were attacked in broad daylight by three white men as they walked along a road in Clacton.

One of the brothers, who was 16, was hit with a pipe and had a cigarette stubbed out on his face as he lay injured on the ground.

The attack came after a passing cyclist shouted racist abuse at the brothers as they walked along Russell Road.

The cyclist then returned with a pipe and as the brothers tried to walk away, their path was blocked by a small red car.

The younger of the brothers was then hit with the pipe and as he lay on the ground injured, the car’s passenger got out and stubbed out a cigarette on the boy’s face. The driver sat and watched.

The attackers only left when another driver stopped and intervened.

Det Con Andy Bareham, who is investigating, said: “If it were not for this good Samaritan, we dread to think what further injuries would have been inflicted on these boys.

“We’re hoping someone will recognise these men and tell us who they are.”

The 16-year-old was treated at Colchester General Hospital for a facial injury and a broken arm.

His older brother suffered bruising on his body. Both are now recovering at home in Clacton.

The cyclist and car passenger are both white, in their late teens or early twenties, about 5ft 9ins tall and of slim to medium build.

The cyclist had black, spiky hair at the back and was riding a racing bike and the car passenger had short, blonde hair and was wearing a grey tracksuit. The car driver was white, between 40 and 50, fat and had a shaven head.

The attack happened at 11.30am on Friday, March 26, but details have only just been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Clacton police on 0300 3334444, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.