THERE were fewer anti-Semitic hate crimes reported in West Mercia last year, but the number recorded nationwide hit a record high.

Jewish safety charity the Community Security Trust said a rise in online incidents was the biggest driver behind the increase across Britain – but warned the figures are "likely to understate the scale of the problem".

The charity received one report of an anti-Semitic incident from a victim, witness, or other organisation in the West Mercia Police area in 2019.

That was two fewer than during 2018, when there were three.

Across Britain, 1,805 reports were received during the year, a 7% increase on 2018 and the highest number since records began in 1984.