A group of people tormented a 23-year-old man in Hereford as he walked home from work, police say.

At one point they spat at him.

The incident happened at around 9.20pm on Sunday (September 27) near the Hinton part of the city's Bishops Meadow.

The victim's brother, Beth May, who lives in Weobley, said he was confronted by a group of about 20 people as he walked home to Putson.

Some were teenage boys, but others were women in their 20s and 30s, she said.

"They started harassing my brother, swearing and tugging at his hoody, and trying to open his pockets.

"Then a 40-year-old on a scooter went up to him shouting in his face.

"The lads copied her, slapping him on the back of the head, then the woman spat in his face.

"At this point my brother pushed her away, and then they all proceeded to spit at him and follow him right up to Tesco Express in Holme Lacy Road shouting abuse.

“My brother messaged me half an hour after the incident took place in shock about what had just happened to him.

"It is his regular route to and from work and nothing like this has ever happened before.

"I was more angry how a women probably twice his age would do such a disgusting act, and how a group of people would pick on someone who was just walking home from work minding his own business.”

Anybody who witnessed the incident, or has any information should report it online quoting incident 22/83170/20 under the 'Tell us About' section of the West Mercia Police website www.westmercia.police.uk or call 101.

Alternatively information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.