Elderly Gurkha veterans have spoken of their distress after a man allegedly subjected them to racist abuse and physical violence in a public park in Aldershot.

The incident is alleged to have taken place at Aldershot Park Municipal Gardens on the evening of Monday, June 16, at around 7.30pm, when a group of Nepalese residents all aged over 70 were reportedly approached by a white male believed to be in his 40s or 50s.

The man allegedly asked the group where they were from before launching into a racist tirade, telling them to "go back to your own country" and making references to being a Nazi.

When younger members of the Nepalese community who were nearby intervened, the man allegedly became more aggressive, confronting a woman face-to-face, kicking a young man, knocking over two elderly men and two elderly women, slapping a woman who was attempting to film the incident and throwing her phone.

Video footage seen by the Herald appears to show a man confronting members of the Nepalese community in the park.

Among those present was Dawa J Sherpa, 77, a Gurkha veteran who served for 16 years and fought in the Falklands War. Khadkha Bahadurpun, 82, who served in Brunei, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UK, was allegedly pushed and had his phone broken. He also sustained an ankle injury during the incident.

Krishna Kumar Rai, chairman of the Gurkha Army Ex-Serviceman Organisation, said the community was deeply shaken. "We are not happy being told go back to our country when we have spent many years fighting for Britain," he said.

Fellow veteran Ghanendra Limbu, who was injured during the Falklands conflict in 1982, said there had been other alleged hate crimes against the Nepali community.

"Sadly this is not the only incident," he said.

"For 200 years our community has fought for the British we need to educate people about the stories of the Gurkhas as they don’t understand what we have done for them."

The following evening Tuesday, June 17, community members, councillors from all political parties and supporters gathered at the park in a solidarity event organised by Dr Bishal Gurung, vice chairman of the Greater Rushmoor Nepali Community.

Rushmoor Borough Council deputy leader Cllr Sophie Porter, who attended the gathering, said the council had already met with the chief inspector.

"Racism, intimidation and hatred is not welcome in this town," she said. "We will not stand for racism in our towns."

Cllr Porter added that MP Alex Baker had contacted the Ministry of Defence given the victims' veteran status. Council leader Councillor Gareth Williams said the council was "shocked and saddened" by the attack.

Hampshire Police have been approached for comment.

A letter has also been sent to MP Alex Baker calling for the matter to be raised with relevant authorities.