A TEIGNBRIDGE woman has spoken of how, after a wonderful day out celebrating a friend’s 70th birthday, she was subjected to ‘hate crime and misogyny’ by football fans on her train journey home.

The 69-year-old woman had been to Bristol for the day and described how she was insulted and jeered at by drunken Exeter City fans.

‘It was pure misogyny and hatred,’ said the woman, who does not wish to be named.

Among other jibes hurled at her they called her ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ and others she said she did not wish to repeat.

She was travelling from Bristol to Exeter on Saturday, February 26, when she said she was abused by the group.

She said: ‘I was frightened and nervous for my safety.’

‘I’d like a full apology from Exeter City Football Club and a promise that they will ban any of those people as and when they’re caught,’ she said.

‘They poked fun at another young woman in a long black coat, saying she was Mary Poppins, but towards me they were just horrible.

‘I am still having trouble sleeping and feel very upset,’ she added.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it had launched an investigation into reports of a ‘hate crime and anti-social behaviour’.

A spokesperson for Exeter City Football Club said: ‘We were disappointed to hear of the alleged poor and unacceptable behaviour by a small group of supporters on a train on their way home from Bristol.

‘While we cannot take responsibility for the behaviour of supporters outside of the football grounds, we would like to remind all supporters to think about how they are behaving and how that effects people around them.’