British Transport Police (BTP) have said they were not aware of a racist tram incident until a video was uploaded on to YouTube.

Reports suggested BTP officers were aware that a woman had racially abused passengers on board a Croydon tram, but today a spokesman for BTP said they had no record of the incident.

The spokesman said they believed the incident took place on Monday, November 1, near Beddington Lane tram stop, but they only became aware of it on Monday, November 28 after the video was posted online.

After searching their records they have found no incidents of any nature in the area at the time of the alleged incident.

A 34-year-old woman was arrested on Monday, November 28 after BTP officers followed up a complaint about the video.

The video which has been watched by 8.7 million people, featured a woman with her son on her lap, launching into a racist tirade.

A spokesman for BTP: "BTP detectives were alerted to the alleged incident of racial abuse after a video posted on You Tube, was first brought to our attention on Monday, November 28.

"On the day of the alleged incident, now thought to be Tuesday November 1, BTP officers were not called to any incidents at tram stops in the Beddington Lane area, including any incidents alleging racial abuse."