STAFF at a New Forest fastfood takeaway have quit because of racial problems with local youths.

They had been targeted with racial abuse and stones had also been hurled at the Forest Tandoori in Milford Road, Lymington.

Owner Shah Rahman had run the premises for seven years without bother until May.

Southampton Crown Court heard one troublemaker, James Wood, had been seen from an adjacent flat roof hurling water bombs which burst on the restaurant floor.

Prosecutor Richard Withey said a few days later, Mr Rahman was going home with his son at about midnight after shutting his premises when Wood suddenly dashed acoss the road into the path of his Mercedes, forcing him to stop.

He then jumped on the bonnet and then the boot before getting off.

Wood, 20, of Landguard Road, Southampton, admitted racially aggravated harassment and was given a four month suspended sentence coupled with 80 hours' unpaid work for the community.

In mitigation, Michelle Clarke said the offence was indicative of a young man falling into the wrong company and taking illicit substances.