A car has been "completely destroyed" after it was set alight outside a family home, in what police are treating as a race-motivated arson attack.

It happened in the Station Road area of Newtownabbey at about 01:45 BST on Thursday.

It is believed the blaze was "started deliberately by two men wearing dark clothing, who were seen running away from the scene".

"It appears that this family, who have two young children, were targeted solely because of the colour of their skin. It is absolutely disgraceful that hard-working people should be victimised in this way," Insp Patton from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

"As with any crime motivated by hate, we will be providing them with an enhanced level of supervision, investigation and support," he added.

PSNI officers, alongside personnel from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, attended the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Police are appealing for anyone with information, or video footage of the incident, to contact them.