An anonymous reader has donated £1,000 to a black family hounded from their home by racists on the day they moved in.

The reader said he was appalled by the incident in Whitehawk, Brighton.

After The Argus reported it on Friday, he wrote: "Just reading this makes me feel quite sick. People really can be horrible.

"I would like to offer a cash amount of £1,000 to the couple as a way of making their move to a new home easier for them after this very traumatic experience.

"Sometimes we need someone to give us back a little faith in humankind."

The victims, who have two young children, said they were thrilled: "It is very nice to receive this money.

"It will help us cover the financial problems we have because of the things that have happened to us."

John Mitchell, head of community safety for eb4U, the organisation regenerating east Brighton with Government money, said: "This shocking incident has clearly struck a chord with lots of people.

"The donation is a very generous gesture that will help the family at a time of need.

"I hope it goes some way to restoring their faith in human nature and demonstrates that the communities of Brighton and Hove abhor racism."

Thugs who had been drinking hurled insults outside the family's new house on June 25 and shouted at them to get out.

The mother, terrified for her family's safety, dialled 999 and police arrested a man and woman in their 40s on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.

A file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service and the couple may be charged.

An injunction has been granted to protect the victims from further abuse.

A Brighton police spokeswoman said: "This was supposed to have been a happy day for the family. Instead it turned horrible and traumatic.

"This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and we acted quickly to ensure the family was protected.

"Incidents of this nature are extremely rare but we treat them very seriously."

Brighton and Hove City Council moved quickly to find the family temporary accommodation and they are now top of the list for rehousing.

Police used patrol cars to move their belongings back to the one-bedroom flat they had left.

The couple, who waited 14 months for a new home, have been offered the chance to return to the house but that is unlikely to happen.

Mr Mitchell said the "very, very nasty incident" was committed by people who had been drinking.

Eb4U sought injunctions to protect the family should they need to return to the house for any reason.