Fagu Patel was with her children Sai, seven, and Ram, four, at the counter in the shop she runs with husband Manish in Stanley, Wakefield, when the attack happened.

The couple say they have suffered eight years of racist abuse at Reehal's Off Licence and News on Rooks Nest Road.

Mr Patel, 38, said: "Before it was always verbal abuse or antisocial behaviour – but this is just too far.

"I heard a scream and saw my wife fall backwards. The pig's foot slapped her straight in the face and knocked her sideways."

Mrs Patel said her family are Hindus, but added: "He probably didn't know we are not Muslim but he must have done it thinking we were." Muslims are forbidden to eat meat from pigs.

Police arrested a man but he was later released without charge following the incident just before 9pm on March 27.

Mrs Patel, 30, said: "It's very upsetting. It gets you down but on the same basis it makes you stronger and not want to give up.

"The children asked me why someone would do this and I just didn't know what to say. Now I sit behind the counter looking outside wondering what is going to happen next.

Mr Patel said: "We came to a village for better quality of life, but we've got the opposite. We just don't know what to do."

Insp Sally Fryer, of Wakefield Police, said: "We take all hate incidents and antisocial behaviour seriously. We are in contact with the victims and would urge the family to report any future incidents to the police and we will deal with them promptly."

Normanton MP and Schools Secretary Schools, Ed Balls, said:"This is a serious report of racial abuse.

"I am backing the police one hundred per cent to take immediate action at the highest levels to end this abuse and keep this family safe."