The city's police chief and politician have said hate crime in Bath will not be tolerated.

Bath MP Don Foster and the city's most senior police officer, Chief Superintendent Olivia Pinkney, spoke out after two men urinated on Muslim worshippers' shoes and clothes as they prayed in a Bath mosque.

The incident took place when the offenders sneaked into the lobby of the Bath Islamic Centre in Pierrepont Street during evening prayers and urinated on clothing and shoes left in the entrance.

They were caught on CCTV leaving the building moments after the incident.

Mr Foster said: "I was horrified to hear about what happened at the mosque.

"I am confident that the vast majority of local people will share my outrage at this behaviour.

"I would urge anyone with any information to contact the police as soon as possible.

"It is vital that the community works together to say to the minority of mindless criminals who carry out this kind of act that hate crime will not be tolerated in this city."

Mr Foster said he had written to the to Imam Rashid Amazi, a leader at the Bath Islamic Centre, to express his concern.

Chief Supt Pinkney urged anyone recognising the culprits to come forward.

"This was a disgusting, mindless crime that caused huge upset to the worshippers and their families," she said.

"The investigation is very much ongoing, which is why we have taken the step to ask the public for help in identifying the two men caught on CCTV.

"Someone must recognise them and we would urge people to come forward with information - this can be done anonymously." [Link]