Two police officers have been shot during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, in an incident during a protest against racial bias in the town’s police force.

Ferguson has faced race riots and escalating tensions between the majority black population and police after unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed by police last year.

Shortly after midnight, at least three shots were fired at police officers, hitting two, as the protesters were beginning to disperse.

Both officers suffered serious injuries after one was shot in the face and the second shot in the shoulder, according to St Louis County police chief Jon Belmar.

The protesters were demonstrating outside the Ferguson police headquarters late on Wednesday after the resignation of Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson, which followed a report alleging racial bias in his department.

They were calling for further action to be taken against the department and more officials to step down over the overwhelming racial bias found in the town’s policing practices.