POLICE are treating the baseball bat attack at Hameldon Community College as a racist incident, it has been revealed.

Since the incident on Friday officers had said it was not racially motivated.

But officers said that since the weekend they have been treating the attack as a 'racist incident.' This differs from a racially-motivated attack in which the sole reason for an assault taking place is someone's race.

A racist incident involves racist abuse being said.

But that does not necessarily mean race was the motivation for the attack.

Chief Inp Jon Puttock said: "We are continuing to make inquiries following the assault last week.

"Part of those inquiries includes the motivation for the assault, which police are treating as a racist incident.

"Four people were arrested and released on police bail over the weekend, bail which includes conditions not to enter the school premises.

"Over recent months there have been no like incidents involving disputes between current or ex-students requiring police attendance."