Boy, 11, held after racist word scrawled on child's forehead

Lancashire Police confirmed it was treating the incident as a "hate crime"

An 11-year-old boy has been arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged racially motivated assault on a child of six.

Lancashire Police said a "racist word had been written on [the boy's forehead] with a marker pen" during an incident at Harpers Recreation Ground in Chorley on Saturday.

The force also revealed a slide in the play area was graffitied with "an offensive word".

The 11-year-old boy, who was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated criminal damage, has been bailed pending further enquiries.

A police spokesman added: "We have been treating this incident extremely seriously and an investigation has been ongoing."

He appealed for witnesses adding, "officers remain out and about in the park and surrounding area as reassurance", and urging people to approach them if they had concerns.