A FRENCH student had his nose broken and other foreign visitors were subject to racist abuse in Callington last week.

Callington's town portreeve has apologised on behalf of the town after the incidents. 'I am very sad and very disappointed by what has happened', said Mrs Kath Pascoe. 'It gives the town a bad image.

'The young visitors were a lovely bunch of students and it is disgusting what has happened to them.'

Mrs Pascoe has written letters of apology to the students' parents and also asked the town clerk Michael Williams to do the same.

The incidents happened in Urban Terrace last Friday night about 10.30pm when three young local men followed a group of French teenagers back to their lodgings in the Community College.

Goodwill visit

The French students are members of a party from the town's French twin Guipavas and were visiting a shop in the centre.

The victim suffered facial injuries including a black eye as well as a broken nose. He was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics.

The students are part of a group of 40 on a goodwill visit to Cornwall.

As well as Guipavas the youngsters come from Barsbutel in Germany, which is Guipavas's German twin town, and also from Kiela in Estonia.

They have been carrying out environmental improvements to Saltash Road park, working alongside local youngsters and also going on outings and activities in and around Cornwall and Plymouth

During the week some of them had been the subject of abuse from local youths, and the German students had coins thrown at them.

But until the incident on Friday night there had been no direct violence.

Now police, who are treating this as a racist incident, are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone who has information can call 0990 777444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.