PARENTS have spoken of their shock and disgust after a group of German exchange students were ‘racially abused’ and offered drugs while playing basketball on Alexandra Park yesterday evening.

A number of students – believed to be between the ages of 11 and 13 – flew to the UK on Tuesday as part of an exchange project at Bridgewater High School.

The students are currently living with a number of families across Warrington.

Mum-of-two Lauren Crane from Grappenhall, whose 12-year-old son attends Bridgewater High School, is one of the families to have opened up her home as part of the scheme.

She said: "On Tuesday many of the kids from Bridgewater High and the exchange students went out to play a game basketball – England v Germany – on Alexandra Park.

"They had a great time and arranged to play again last night (Wednesday, May 4).

"My son is due to fly out to Germany in July so it is all about building relationships and getting to know each other.

"But last night my son came back and told me a lad who looked around 16 to 19 years old had offered to sell them weed.

"There was a group of them and they then started to abuse the kids from Germany about Hitler.

"I was mortified for them and it is absolutely appalling that they have been subjected to this.

"It's pure ignorance and it's horrific what these kids have had to go through."

The incident is understood to have happened between 8pm and 8.30pm.

Parent Sarah Jolliffe added on Facebook: "A few of us around here have German exchange students - 13 year old boys and girls - and we have welcomed them into our homes for the benefit of not only their education but providing memories for the rest of their lives.

"Horrified and fuming to learn that last night on the park where a number of both the German and English kids were having a basketball game and chilling out on the park they were racially abused and had 'Hitler' type chants aimed at them.

She added: "Lovely young children who have dug deep to find the courage to stay with complete strangers in a different language and they get treated like that.

“I'm ashamed of my country right now and that takes a lot."

Cheshire Police have confirmed they have received a report regarding the incident and investigations are ongoing to identify those involved.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 citing incident number 956 of May 4 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.