Verbal abuse and hate mail are included in the incident figures

In the last 12 months, the UK charity helped 33,374 people in England and Wales, who believe they were victims of racially-motivated crime.

It compares to 3,072 race crime referrals in 1993 to 1994.

The group says changes in the way crimes are recorded is a factor, but it is still worrying.

'Staggering rise'

Victim Support spokesman Andrew Buckingham said growing confidence in reporting race crime and more focused police activity after the Macpherson report had played their part.

"But having said that, it is a particularly staggering rise suggesting race crime must have gone up as well," he added.

There has been a change in the way racially-motivated crime is recorded following the Macpherson report into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1999.

RACE CRIMES REFERRED TO VICTIM SUPPORT 1993/94 - 3,072 1998/99 - 5,269 1999/00 - 10,828 2000/01 - 20,508 2001/02 - 23,130 2002/03 - 20,950 2003/04 - 33,374

The report made 70 recommendations for improving police attitudes to racism.

Racially motivated crime covers a wide-range of offences for including racial abuse on the streets or harassment in the workplace.

Mr Buckingham said victims have had race hate leaflets or letters sent by extreme political groups.

In other cases, dog faeces has been put through people's letter boxes.

"These attacks really can have an absolutely devastating effect on people's lives and on the community they live in, " he said.

"It is an attack on the very identity of a person. "

"Harassment is often not a one-off offence, and it could go on over weeks, months and even years, gradually wearing people down. "

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) set up to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality, described the figures as "worrying".

A CRE spokesperson said the figures reinforced anecdotal evidence that racially motivated crimes seem to be increasing.