Community leaders have condemned an egg attack on Muslims after it emerged there have been a number of similar attacks in recent months.

The attack on a couple in Briarwood Road, Stoneleigh, at 8.20pm on Monday night came less than a week after a terrorist attack in Tunisia where it is feared 30 British tourists were killed.

It is not known if it was prompted by the atrocity in North Africa, which has been strongly condemned by the Muslim community in Surrey.

Police said three eggs were thrown at the couple from the window of a black Volkswagen Polo leaving the woman with minor injuries.

Epsom and Ewell police borough commander Inspector Jackie Elkins said: "It appears this couple was deliberately targeted as they left the mosque and I can reassure the local community that an investigation is underway, including trying to obtain descriptions of the occupants in the car.

"We have had three similar incidents in the last two or three months, with the description of the car on previous occasions being given as a white Fiesta or a white Polo."

She said police are working to see if the incidents are linked and pledged to continue to work closely with, and reassure, the Muslim communities.

Monday: Thugs hurl eggs at Muslims in Stoneleigh just days after Tunisia attack

She added: "While there is nothing to suggest this incident has any links to recent events in Tunisia, I am aware that there will always be people who want to exploit the current situation and create fear within our Muslim communities, with whom we will continue to work closely, to offer our protection and reassurance.”

Muslims in Surrey and around the world are currently fasting been dawn and sunset as part of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which began on June 18.

A similar attack was reported during Ramadan in 2009 when worshippers were pelted with eggs in a racially aggravated attack as they entered the Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society in Hook Road.

2009: Muslim worshippers pelted with eggs near Epsom and Ewell mosque

Shakir Goonoo, ex-chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society, said: "It’s happened before especially during the month of Ramadan.

"This increases when there are things happening in other places. What is happening elsewhere, we condemn all those things. We are a peaceful community here."

Shiraz Mirza, the Surrey police and crime commissioner’s advisor on diversity and equality, said it was "terrible" to hear that Muslims had been attacked in Stoneleigh and he has raised it with the commissioner and chief constable.

Mr Mirza said: "What is going on in the world at the moment is going to have some reaction.

"But people need to understand that people here are very law abiding so no-one should take the law into their hands."

Councillor Mike Teasdale, who represents Stoneleigh on Epsom Council, said: "It’s something one would not wish to see in a community as together as Stoneleigh."

In response to the egg attack, Surrey’s police and crime commissioner Kevin Hurley said it was unfortunate that some people in society act in a “bigoted and racist” manner.

Mr Hurley said: “If we are to have a successful future for all of us, this is exactly the kind of stuff we must put a stop to.”

He stressed the importance of people working together and making sure they do not “overreact” to terrorist attacks abroad even though Britons were sadly killed in Tunisia.

He said: “The British people are far too sensible to lose their cool, particularly those of us in Surrey. Let’s not get carried away here, it was a tragedy in Tunisia.”

If you witnessed the incident in Briarwood Road, or you have any other information which could assist the investigation, please contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 45150055846 or by using the online reporting system found at https://my.surrey.police.uk/splonlinereportingweb

Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.