Fake make-up artist paints woman's face in Beales, Bournemouth Published duration 15 December 2018

image copyright Dorset Police image caption A woman was offered a free makeover by a man claiming to be make-up artist

A man pretending to work in a department store covered a woman's face with make-up in a racially-aggravated assault.

A woman in her 50s shopping in Beales was offered a free makeover by a smartly-dressed man claiming to be a make-up artist.

He roughly caked her face in white make-up, causing irritation and reddening.

It happened on 9 December in the store in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.

The woman, who is of Indonesian origin, is dark-skinned.

PC Alex Knapp, of Dorset Police, said: "The victim is understandably very upset by the incident.

"We take hate crime very seriously and we are carrying out a full investigation to identify the man responsible."

The man was challenged by a member of staff and left the store.

Dorset Police have released CCTV of a man they want to speak to.