A MAN with a Liverpudlian accent threw a tennis ball at a woman and racially abused her friend in an incident near a Southbourne pub.

Police have only just released information about the incident, which happened at 9.30pm on Tuesday, July 23 in Stourwood Avenue opposite the Spyglass and Kettle.

One of the victims, a woman in her 40s from Christchurch, was walking her dog with her friend when the pet was attacked by a Labrador.

The victim told the owner of the Labrador that his dog should be on a lead.

The man then verbally abused the victim and threw a tennis ball at her, which she managed to avoid.

He then hurled racist abuse at her friend, a British Asian woman in her 40s and from Bournemouth.

Police say the man is white with tanned weathered skin. He is aged in his mid-50s and stands around five feet 11 inches tall.

At the time of the incident he had short hair. He speaks with a strong Liverpool accent.

He wore a green T-shirt and shorts, and his black Labrador had a red collar. He was with an Asian woman.

PC Rebecca Walker-Date, of Bournemouth police, said: “It has only recently been possible for officers to speak to both women about what happened.

“This was a very unpleasant and unprovoked incident, which left them both very upset."

Anyone who recognises the man's description should contact Dorset Police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55190113917.