POLICE in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, are appealing for information after a ten-year-old boy suffered cuts when his first-floor bedroom window was broken in what officers believe was a racist attack.

At about 9pm on Thursday, the boy was lying on his bed under the window at his home in Park Road when the sash window suddenly broke.

The glass showered on to the boy, who is Asian, leaving glass fragments embedded in his arm and hand.

The boy's family told police they believe their home was targeted because of their ethnic origin, and police are treating the incident as racially aggravated criminal damage and racially aggravated actual bodily harm.

Appealing for witnesses, PC Victoria Hayward said: "We need to hear from anyone who saw the incident or who can identify the offender or offenders.

"We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who can identify three youths seen running into Victoria Road.

"The whole family was affected by this attack."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at Cowes on 0845 045 4545.