A GANG of hooligans who chanted racist abuse on a train are being hunted by British Transport Police.

The group of around 50 men boarded the 11.08am Leeds to Manchester Victoria service at Halifax on Saturday March 5.

They are believed to have been making their way to an English Defence League rally in Rochdale.

Detective Constable Jason Ridgway, of BTP, said: “The group’s behaviour included chanting racist and inappropriate remarks and aggressively punching and banging on the train’s interior, causing unnecessary fear for passengers and staff on board the train.

“The behaviour of these men was outrageous and has no place on the railway – or in the wider community – especially at a time when families are travelling between cities.

He added: “Racism and Islamophobia in our community and on the rail network is totally unacceptable.

“Everyone has the right to travel without fear of abuse or threatening behaviour, and when that behaviour is further exacerbated by racist undertones, our stance becomes firmer.

“BTP and the wider rail industry will not tolerate any form of racism on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to take action against those responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 0800 405040 quoting reference B12/NWA, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

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FAR-right demonstrators were marched out of Halifax by police after racist abuse was shouted at town-centre traders.

Scores of officers and dog handlers were deployed to Wards End and Horton Street on Saturday at around 5pm to deal with a mob of English Defence League (EDL) supporters on their way back from a rally in Blackburn.

Protestors from factions in Halifax, Hull, Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds gathered at The Courtyard pub on Wards End, hanging an EDL flag outside.

A worker at the nearby Chicken Grill House takeaway said three men had shouted racist abuse and staff at some shops were so worried they closed up.

Assistants at Hot 4 U takeaway on Wards End said a fight started in the street and eight men had tried to get into their shop but police had marched them away.

Staff at the Courtyard, which was also busy with Halifax Town supporters, said the EDL demonstrators arrived just before the football fans

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The first two English Defence League members charged after a town-centre demo have appeared in court.

Of recent times the police have been on top of the EDL demonstrations. Ever since the riots and vandalism of Dudley and Leicester, the police have deployed containing tactics.  As the average EDL member is getting fed up of being contained in a pub and then herded into a mental cage for an hour, they have now stated that they wilol no longer co-operatre with the police.

Halifax police are having none of it though and fully intend to cage them and stop them smashing the town up, attacking Asians and fighting with each other.

Here is what the people of Halifax think of this Saturday's demonstration: