The 20-strong group of teenagers has been tormenting the Wasilewski family, originally from Wroclaw, Poland, with racist abuse for more than a year.

And events turned more serious last Thursday night, when Arkadiusz Wasilewski, 30, woke up to the sound of an air gun being fired at his home. When he went outside to confront the culprit, the youth started firing at him instead before running away.

Luckily Mr Wasilewski was not injured but he told the Reporter he feared he might not be so fortunate next time.

Mr Wasilewski lives with partner Grazyna Lukaszewicz and her 13-year-old son Jan. The family had moved from Poland to Batley in 2005 and, a year later, bought a home in Thorn Road, Thornhill.

Within months of moving in, the family were subject to swearing and racist abuse from a group of teenagers.

The youths would also gather outside their home and throw eggs, tomatoes, wet toilet paper and stones at the property.

Mr Waskilewski, a machine operator at the Calder Textiles factory, said it was the first time his family had been subjected to such abuse.

He said: "We don't listen to Polish music to upset people, we are a very quiet family. I don't know why people do it. It's very, very bad."

A police spokesman said officers were called to Thorn Road at 10.25pm on Thursday March 13 after reports of an incident involving an air rifle.

He said: "No-one was injured and no damaged was reported, however, anyone with any information is asked to contact Pc Amanda Taylor on 0845 6060606."