TWO offenders started a fire and left racist notes outside an Oxford Jewish centre - just days before it was at the centre of an 'unkown substance' scare.

Police have revealed that two offenders placed anti-Semitic notes outside the Chabad Student Centre, in Cowley Road, before starting a fire on Saturday.

The incident happened at about 4am.

City councillor for the area Tom Hayes said: "Oxford Chabad is a hub of Jewish life in the city and the people of St Clement's are proud that the student centre has made its home here.

"We deplore every act of anti-Semitism and stand with our Jewish community."  

On Wednesday, emergency services descended on the street shortly after 3pm after offenders threw what turned out to be talcum powder at bins outside the building. They also left anti-Semitic note.

Investigating officer detective sergeant George Atkinson, of the investigation hub in Oxford, said: "Hate crimes are serious offences and something we will not tolerate in the Thames Valley. We are conducting a thorough investigation and have several lines of enquiry which we are exploring.

"However, we are appealing to anyone who may have any information about the offence to come forward.

"If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, please visit a police station or call 101 and quote investigation reference number 43180153897.

"Thankfully the fire burned out within a couple of minutes, it didn't cause significant damage and no-one was injured."

If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference '43180153897', or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.