Kamalle Daboussy, from the Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre, said: ``People simply left and went home. We wanted to capture the spirit of this special day, but it didn't happen.''

Mr Daboussy said a small group kept intimidating people at the feast with verbal abuse until many left.

He said that the Sudanese community dealt with racism on a regular basis.

``They have been very patient, and don't make a fuss about it,'' he said.

``But the fact is they are constantly victims of verbal intimidation.''

Acting Inspector Michael Bright of Liverpool police said there were no reports of physical or verbal abuse but that the Sudanese community was known to be reluctant to report crime to the police. ``They are suspicious of the police due to the circumstances in their home country,'' he said.