A customer at a Colchester restaurant racially abused a table of diners.

Police are investigating the incident, in which a woman shouted abuse at a group of Asian men at Zizzi’s, in Headgate, Colchester and threw a wine glass.

Insp Jim White, of the Colchester central neighbourhood policing team, said: “It happened after the woman’s partner had turned around to another group and told them to go back to their own country. This was a hate crime and we have a dedicated officer to deal with incidents such as this.

“It will be fully investigated. We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour in Colchester.”

The men who were abused did not contact police, but another diner complained to them.

Anyone with information about last Thursday’s incident is asked to call Colchester police station on 0300 3334444.