Police are asking for help identifying a man and woman who assaulted a couple in a suspected hate crime at a highway gas station.

Officers received a report that a couple had stopped at Gloucester Services, between junctions 12 and 11 on the M5 northbound.

While sitting by the pond, they challenged a woman whose child was throwing stones at the ducks.

The woman then used homophobic language towards the two victims, after which she went to social services.

She returned with a man who threatened the couple with violence and then threw food in the face of one of the victims.

The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 30.

Officers are trying to track down the perpetrators and are now asking the public for any information that may help.

They are described as white, with the woman having blond hair, being of average height and tanned. She was wearing a white summer dress and sunglasses.

The man was described as tall and bald and wearing a dark striped T-shirt.

They were three children and spoke with an Australian accent.

After the incident they drove away in a silver Tesla. The perpetrators are believed to be from the Hereford area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary via their website, quoting incident 257 of 30 June: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/us/a-crime-that-has-already-been-reported/

The police have dedicated hate crime and victim support coordinators, who work with a strategic hate crime partnership to combat hate.

If you have been a victim of a hate crime you can contact your local Victim Support Team in Gloucestershire on 0808 281 0112 or you can contact them online: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/