Four teenagers have been charged with hate crimes including the racial abuse of fellow pupils at a school in Aberdeenshire.

The alleged bullying incidents are said to have taken place between September and January.

Four pupils, aged between 13 and 16, have been charged with acting in a racially aggravated manner.

Police Scotland said the pupils would be referred to the Youth Justice Management Unit.

Community policing sergeant Kevin MacDonald, said: "Four pupils aged 13, 14, 15, and 16 have been charged in relation to acting in an allegedly racially aggravated manner.

"The pupils have been reported to the Youth Justice Management Unit in relation to the incidents that occurred between September last year and January this year.

"Police Scotland takes a zero tolerance approach to any form of hate crime and we regularly work with the schools and our partners across the division to address any issues."

He continued: "Hate incidents of any type are thankfully very low in schools across the north east with the vast majority of pupils treating each other with respect.

"Hate crime inputs are regularly delivered by our school liaison officers in partnership with school staff in all our schools, and we continue to encourage anyone with concerns to report these to police on 101."