A woman had to take weeks off from work due to injuries after a racial attack.

Abha Sharma from South Oxhey, who has lived in England for 20 years, says her and her nine-year-old son were victims of racial abuse near the Vue cinema at Woodside Leisure Park on November 30 at around 8.30pm.

Mrs Sharma was punched as she walked to the entrance of the cinema by a woman who was arguing with her moments before about her driving at the Woodside car park.

She described how the incident started and said: “I was looking for parking space in the car park, I gave way to another person and then they (the suspected attacker) were coming in so I stopped.

“They stopped next to me and were swearing, saying things like I can’t drive and who gave you money for an expensive car.”

She said they also used derogatory terms about her skin colour and Indian heritage as they swore and insulted her and her son.

The A-Level and GCSE physics teacher at Rickmansworth School called it an “unprovoked, unfair and unnecessary” attack.

Police confirmed Mrs Sharma was racially abused and punched by the other woman as she walked to the cinema.

They also said the victim sustained swelling to her cheek and a fractured bone.

But Mrs Sharma has had repeated issues of falling dizzy or shortly unconscious since the incident, even after a month.

Due to her regularly feeling unwell, she has had to take weeks off from work as she is unable to concentrate.

She admitted: “My confidence was shaken. I didn’t want to go outside anymore but even my son is badly affected mentally.”

Her daughter Anushka Sharma, 17, added her shock that her younger brother was subject to racist slurs and said: “As a child he should not be a victim to racist abuse.

“The fact we have to go out of our way to stay away from people shouting abuse at us is ridiculous, why do we have to be scared?”

No arrests have yet been made.

Hertfordshire Constabulary added that they take a "strong stance against all hate crime, including racism."

For advice and support, visit the Hertfordshire Against Hate page here.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call the non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference 41/108503/19.