A terrified mother today told how her family were driven out of their Bradford home by violent racist thugs.

Mary Ward, who has been made homeless by her ordeal, said the final straw came when her young daughter had a brick thrown at her face as she played in their back yard.

Mrs Ward, 33, said: "I moved in to Barkerend Road three months ago and from the first day I arrived it has been torture. We have suffered constant abuse for the simple fact that we are gypsies."

On Wednesday, after the children returned home from school, they went to play in the back yard of the terraced house.

The mother-of-five said: "Chantelle, my twelve-year-old, was watching over the younger ones Anthony and Thomas. The next thing I heard this terrible screaming. It was terrifying and at first I thought she had been knocked down."

Mrs Ward, who moved into the rented house after moving from Coventry, said: "She came running in with blood pouring out of a wound on her head. She was in state of total shock and panic."

Chantelle, who has stayed home from school for a month through a fear of bullying, was taken to hospital where the cut was treated.

The youngster, who bears a three-inch scar from the attack, said: "One of them threw half a brick straight at me and it hit me in the head. We had done nothing to them so why should they do this?"

Police are still hunting three Asian youths in connection with what they described as a "horrendous" racist attack.

The youth who threw the brick is described as Asian, about 13-years-old, small and of stocky build. He was wearing a school uniform of a blue jumper and grey trousers.

Mrs Ward said "every other day" her children come home with bruises and having suffered verbal abuse. Now Mrs Ward, her husband Anthony, 33, and the children have appealed to Bradford Council to find them a new home.

She said the list of other incidents included.

l Her children being repeatedly attacked in the street - now they cannot play outside without their parents.

l Stones being thrown through their windows at night.

l Constant verbal abuse from both children and adults in the street.

l The house being broken into while the family were out.

Mrs Ward said that she and her husband had lived as travellers in caravans until the children reached school age when they "needed stability".

A Bradford Council spokesman said Mrs Ward had been given temporary accommodation while her appeal for homeless status - and permanent accommodation - was considered.

Anyone with information on the attack should contact Bradford Central CID on (01274) 376485 or 0845 6060606.

e-mail: drew.kendell@bradford.newsquest.co.uk.

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