Refugees had their homes covered with racist graffiti - and the attacks are so regular that people are afraid to speak out in case of reprisals.

Police met community groups in the area yesterday and expect to make arrests.

But some people living on Swainby and Danby Roads in Stockton were too scared to speak to The Northern Echo yesterday following the attacks.

Most of the graffiti has been removed by Stockton Borough Council since the homes were sprayed on Sunday and Monday.

But at least two houses on Danby Road still had the letters BNP, representing the right-wing British National Party, daubed on the front windows yesterday.

Other properties had racist messages scrawled onto doors.

Similar criminal damage has occurred on previous occasions on houses in the area.

Most people did not want to talk to The Northern Echo yesterday for fear of reprisals.

But Busi Ndlobu, 27, the mother of a three-month-old baby, who came to Britain to escape persecution in Zimbabwe, said: "This used to bother us, but now we are used to it. It has happened a few times.

"They throw mud at the window and sometimes they break the windows.

"They don't know anything about us or about Zimbabwe and they are young."

Inspector Mark Thornton, of Cleveland Police, said the issue was discussed yesterday with various community groups, including community wardens, Hartlepool Borough Council and asylum seeker support groups.

He said: "The message to this community is that nobody should put up with this.

"We will do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Alan Hardy, the Stockton manager of the British National Party, which used to meet at the nearby Brown Jug pub, said: "I disassociate myself entirely from the acts in question.

"My hope is that the perpetrators, if found, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

"If it transpires they are members of this party, then I shall make the strongest recommendation for expulsion."

A man was helping police with their enquiries yesterday.

l A number of refugee support groups hold meetings at Community House on Swainby Road from 10am on Fridays.