Three boys have been fined for a racially motivated attack which left a Jewish man injured and his non-Jewish friend requiring 18 stitches.

The boys, all aged 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been sentenced by a judge at Bury Youth Court.

The incident happened last June after a football kickabout in St Mary's Park, Prestwich, Manchester. The Jewish man and his friend left the ground, claiming that their opponents had been tackling in an overly aggressive manner. The youths then shouted racial abuse at the pair and then followed the 22-year-old victims to a set of traffic lights on Bury New Road.

The attack left the non-Jewish victim with a bleeding head after being hit with a broom handle, a wooden panel and tree branch. The Jewish victim was hit over the head by a tree branch.

One of the three assailants was found guilty of section 18 assault, and pleaded guilty to racially motivated section 39 assault and affray.

At a previous hearing, he was given a 12-month referral order, fined £1600, and ordered to pay a further £300 in legal costs.

The other two pleaded guilty to racially aggravated section 39 assault and affray.

One was given a six-month referral order and fined £100 at an earlier hearing.

The third youth was today, (March 26), given a 12-month referral order and a six-month curfew.

Detective Constable Ian Smith of Greater Manchester Police said: "This was a totally unprovoked racist attack that left one man needing stitches to his head.

"Today's result sends a clear message there is no room for racism or violence on our streets, and that we take an entirely no nonsense approach to it."