A Muslim-owned dairy has been at the centre of a series of violent attacks at the hands of a group of youths which last night culminated in a petrol bombing.

The incident is believed to be linked to ongoing disorder in the area involving gangs of Asian and white youngsters gathering outside the Medina Dairy in Windsor, Berkshire, tormenting its staff in what police are describing as 'mindless violence'.

The dairy owner, Sadar Hussain, has recently been reported in the local press saying that the area was in desperate need for a place for Muslim worship.

At the moment there is a small prayer room near the dairy, but the nearest mosque is in Slough - more than five miles away from Windsor.

Mr Hussain, 46, submitted a planning proposal to the council last year to change the dairy to an Islamic education and community facility, but it was refused on the grounds that it would reduce the amount of employment in the area and result in increased traffic congestion.

The application went to appeal in September and the results are expected to be announced later on this month.

According to the 2001 census, there are just 448 Muslims living in Windsor and Eton out of a population of 31,015. This amounts to just 1.4 per cent of the total population - one of the lowest ratios in the country.

Mohammed Azan, director of the dairy, said: "This has been going on for one-and-a-half years but it has been getting worse since last night. Although nobody was injured this time the three youths came and said they would come back with guns and would shoot us.

"It’s very sad. We respect everybody and we want them to respect us too."

Resident Nadia El Hamamy said she had lived in Windsor for 28 years and had never seen anything like this. "This is unbelievable," she said.

Thames Valley Police are not yet linking the incidents to the planning application but are continuing their investigations.

Chief Superintendant Brian Langston said: "We will not allow any section of the community to be intimidated by mindless violence.

"We will continue to use robust policing tactics to deal with anyone threatening public safety."

A spokesman for Windsor Council, said: "Nothing like this has ever happened before and there is no previous history of any such incidents."

Two 16-year-old boys from Windsor were arrested on Tuesday evening in connection with the attacks on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon. One was subsequently charged. A 23-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of common assualt.

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