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British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for witnesses after a member of railway staff was racially abused on a train in Devon.
 
The guard on board the 1713hrs Paignton ^ Exmouth service was checking tickets while the train was travelling between Polsloe Bridge and Digby & Sowton railway stations at around 6.30pm on Saturday 11 December 2010.

Detective Constable Dean Jeffery, investigating officer, said: ^The female guard, who is originally from Eastern Europe, was checking tickets when a male passenger tried to engage her in conversation before racially abusing her, causing her to fear for her safety.

^We believe there were a number of passengers who may have witnessed this incident and I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened to contact BTP as their information could assist our investigation.

^The train was held for a short time at Digby & Sowton railway station until BTP officers arrived.^

Anyone with information is urged to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident number 491 of 11/12/2010, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

*A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence was arrested at Digby & Sowton railway station. He has been bailed until Wednesday 19 January pending further enquiries.