TODAY we report on the shocking story of a family forced out of its home after being the target of hate crime attacks for several years.

Nissar Hussain has spoken to the Telegraph & Argus previously about the campaign of abuse against him and the upset and devastation it has caused.

Just under a year ago Mr Hussain was attacked in the street by two hooded men armed with a pickaxe handle and was left with a broken kneecap and hand.

From his hospital bed, he told us how he, his wife and six children had suffered for years and felt as though they were being driven from their home and planned to move.

But as the family started packing up this week, a serious threat against them led to armed police swooping on the home and escorting them to a safe place.

You can only imagine the distress this drastic action would cause, especially for young children.

Mr Hussain believes the reason for the attack was his conversion from Islam to Christianity, but regardless of the ins and outs of this particular case, no one should be forced out of their home by hate.

The police need to find out exactly who is responsible and prosecute them through court, and the courts need to make examples of them so everybody gets the message that you cannot force your will or belief on others.

As the Hussain family begins to pick up the pieces and make a new life away from everything familiar, we hope the police are working just as hard to catch those responsible for this sad outcome.