Havering's council leader has condemned the alleged racist abuse of a group of women in Romford town centre.

A video shared to social media appeared to show a man using threatening and racist language towards the women in South Street at around 4.05pm on Saturday (April 20).

Police have since charged Terry Eury, 55, of Wapping, with religiously aggravated intentional harassment in connection with the incident.

Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, today (April 22) said he was "sickened" by the video and stated that hate crime will not be tolerated in the borough.

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The Metropolitan Police had said the incident was being urgently investigated and treated as a hate crime.

Cllr Morgon said: “There is more that unites us than divides us, and I’m calling on our local community to join me and make it clear that Havering is for everyone. We will always treat all our communities fairly and equally.”

Police previously said that officers would be speaking to the women involved.

Several members of the community, including Collier Row Mosque, have been in touch with The Recorder expressing their concern.

Collier Row Mosque in Chase Cross Road was itself subject to a separate racially aggravated incident earlier this month.

On April 6, CCTV footage captured a man walking past the mosque and stopping to tear down a sign outside its premises.

Police subsequently found criminal damage was caused, an act branded "senseless" by the mosque.