A MAN has been charged with racial breach of the peace following an incident in Johnstone.

Officers were called to Ettrick Terrace at around 5.05pm on Monday after receiving a report of a 29-year-old woman being racially abused by a man who turned up at her home.

It is claimed the 40-year-old suspect approached a group of children playing on the roof of a garage, causing them to run away.

One of the youngsters fell over and the man reportedly hit the eight-year-old on the leg with a tree branch.

Police traced the suspect nearby and he was taken into custody.

He is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court today.