POLICE are hunting a gang of teenage thugs who launched a shocking daylight attack on a dad and his son in Barrhead town centre.

The victims – aged 40 and 17 – were spat at, kicked and punched by the four-man gang during the assault on Main Street at around 4pm on Friday, March 24.

Fears the attack on the Syrian victims may have been racially motivated have been quashed by police.

Initially, the older man was spat at outside the town’s Asda store.

The yobs then followed their victims towards the junction with Cochrane Street before where they set upon them.

Officers have released descriptions of two of the four suspects, who are all thought to be in their late teens.

The first man is described as wearing a silver tracksuit top and black tracksuit bottoms.

The other is said to have worn a dark-coloured hooded top with a baseball cap underneath the hood.

Police have asked any members of the public who may have witnessed the assault to come forward to assist their enquiries.

Sergeant Michael Morganthaler, who is based at Giffnock Police Station, said: “An incident occurred at 4pm on March 24 outside Asda supermarket in the Main Street in Barrhead.

“A group of four males approached a 40-year-old Syrian man and assaulted him by spitting on his face.

“A short time later in Main Street, further along the road near to Cochrane Street, the same group of male suspects approached this man and his 17-year-old son.

“At which time they again physically assaulted both of them by punching and kicking them. The men received minor injuries.

“At this moment in time it’s not being treated as a racially motivated incident.

“The suspects are described as all in their late teens, all males, one of whom was wearing a silver tracksuit top with black tracksuit bottoms.

“Another one was wearing a dark coloured hooded top with a baseball cap underneath the hood. The suspects were last seen making off on foot along Cochrane Street.

“We’re very keen to speak to anybody who may have witnessed these assaults taking place or who may have information as to the possible identities of the suspects.”

The attack has been condemned by community representatives, who called on the town to help catch those responsible.

Barrhead councillor Kenny Hay said: “It’s not acceptable. Nobody should be assaulted by anybody.

“It’s something you don’t want to see in Barrhead or in Scotland at all.

“I hope if somebody did see it that people come forward and identify them because it’s totally unacceptable.

“I would hope this is totally random and that it’s something that won’t happen again.

“If people are committing a crime they should be dealt with. You don’t want the minority who are committing these crimes to get bigger.”

Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, which covers Barrhead, echoed cllr Hay’s plea for members of the public to assist police enquiries.

He said: “It’s always distressing to hear of incidents like this and I hope that the man and his son are recovering from their ordeal.

“It’s important to remember that incidents like this are rare and I would urge anyone with any information to contact Police Scotland on 101.”