Welsh residents launched verbal attacks against teenage Scouts after mistaking their Scottish accents for those of asylum seekers.

A police investigation into racist online abuse has been launched following the incident.

The verbal attacks occurred when approximately 30 young people arrived at a Scout campsite in Newbridge, South Wales, having travelled roughly 400 miles from Scotland.

Local villagers wrongly identified the individuals as immigrants, leading to the circulation of a video on social media containing false claims about the group's identity.

The footage, which has since been removed, sparked abusive comments that police are now examining for potential racism offences.

The teenagers were participating in youth work activities at the CRAI Scout Activity Park, a facility near Caerphilly that regularly hosts camping groups and outdoor programmes.

The campsite provides various amenities including dormitories, kitchen facilities and space for outdoor activities.

Welsh residents launched verbal attacks against teenage Scouts after mistaking their Scottish accents for those of asylum seekers

The confusion arose when residents heard the Scottish visitors' accents and assumed they were foreign nationals being housed at the location.

A witness described the situation as "horrible", noting that locals were "going on about illegal immigrants flooding the Valleys" along with "all the usual rubbish".

The misunderstanding escalated when footage of the young people boarding a coach began circulating on Facebook.

The video falsely alleged that Gwent Police were stationed at the location to guard the site, fuelling further speculation among social media users.

A police investigation into racist online abuse has been launched following the incident

These unfounded claims spread rapidly online, with numerous offensive posts appearing in response to the footage.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White addressed the misinformation, he said: "The group featured in the video were visiting from another part of the country to attend a frequently used Scout camp in Newbridge and many of the people in the video are children."

He clarified that officers do not guard the facility, which serves as a training ground for police dogs when not hosting visitors.

Police have initiated enquiries into posts containing what they described as "inappropriate and offensive language" targeting the underage visitors.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White urged residents to "consider the tone and sentiment of their language" and to "think twice about what they might read online".

ScoutsCymru confirmed they were collaborating with authorities regarding what they termed a "racially aggravated incident targeting under-18s".

A spokesman said: "We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site and will continue to take immediate and robust action against any behaviour that threatens this."

The organisation emphasised that CRAI Scout Activity Park operates as an "inclusive and welcoming campsite".