An appeal has been launched after a young mother was reportedly racially abused on a Central line Tube train by a woman who threatened to have her three children kidnapped.

British Transport Police say a woman was "swearing and being anti-social" when her victim, who was travelling with three children aged between two and five, asked her to stop.

The woman is said to have started shouting at the children, threatening them and racially abusing their mother before kicking her in the stomach.

Police say the woman unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse which lasted around 20 minutes before leaving at Mile End station.

The incident is reported to have taken place on at Oxford Circus on December 28 at around 6.30pm.

They have now released images of a woman they believe may have information which could aid their investigation.

Investigating officer PC Alom Uddin, said: “This was an utterly awful experience for the woman and her children, who were all terrified by the woman’s aggressive and disgraceful actions. The children were all visibly upset.

“We will never tolerate hate crime on the rail network and working hard to identify the person responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 362 of 28/12/2017. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.