A Fishponds woman who screamed racist abuse at her Somalian neighbour, and even threatened to burn her house down, yesterday left Bristol Crown Court with a community order.

Maria McColl racially harassed her neighbour, Ayan Osman, rudely gesticulating at her and tracking her in her car while slurring her ethnic background, the court was told.

The 28-year-old defendant, of Frampton Crescent, did not end her tirade until she had reached Mrs Osman's front door.

Her victim went inside her home and called for help before police arrived and McColl was arrested.

McColl later pleaded guilty to two charges of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

McColl's behaviour was described as being a "one-off" and she was handed a two-year community order and ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.

She will be supervised for two years and take part in a Think First programme.

Mary Cowe, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, told how McColl made racist taunts to her neighbour on November 6 last year.

She said that Mrs Osman had dropped her children off at school in her vehicle when she noticed the defendant in her car sticking her fingers up and shouting.

The court heard how McColl then followed her victim as she drove her toddler to a doctor's surgery.

When Mrs Osman came out of the building 20 minutes later, Ms Cowe said the defendant was waiting and swore at her for being Somalian.

Ms Cowe said the defendant then followed Mrs Osman and her two-year-old daughter home.

Her victim was said to have reached her house when McColl appeared again in her vehicle and shouted more abuse, getting out and walking to Mrs Osman's door.

"She started making abusive remarks about her background and made threats to burn her house down," said Mrs Cowe to the courtroom.

She said that the victim went inside her home and called an organisation that deals with racist incidents, and later the police arrived and arrested the defendant for the incidents.

David Martin, defending, said his client was ashamed of what she had done and wanted the opportunity to apologise to Mrs Osman face to face.

Sentencing McColl, Judge Simon Darwall-Smith said: "You are right to be ashamed of what you did.

"It's a one-off incident in relation to your neighbour.

"I am impressed that flames have not flickered since. I hope that remains to be the case."