DETECTIVES want to find a gang of boys after a 12-year-old girl was attacked in York.

North Yorkshire Police said the girl was walking alone in the Clifton Moor area at about 9pm on Monday, July 30, when she was pushed to the ground, and suffered injuries to her face, knee and stomach.

A spokesman said officers were keen to identify six boys seen on bikes in the area around the time of the incident, and offered descriptions of three of them.

The first was white, thought to be 18 years old, about 5ft 10in tall, of muscular build with a short stubble beard which was dark in colour and short dark hair. He was wearing a Nike cap with a white tick on the front, dark coloured baggy tracksuit bottoms and a black puffer jacket. He was riding a bike which was described as an old mountain bike.

The second was also white, aged 16 or 17, about six feet tall, of slim build with red marks, possibly acne, on his face. He was wearing a black Adidas cap with three white stripes down the peak and a black Adidas tracksuit with white stripes. He was carrying a black rucksack on his back and he was riding a new looking red racer bike.

The third was also white, aged about 16, about 5ft 8ins tall, of average build, with blonde hair which included very distinctive long sideburns and was unshaven. He was wearing a navy blue Nike cap which a small metal tick on the front, a navy coloured ‘Gym King’ tracksuit, white ‘Huarache’ Nike trainers and carrying a ‘Hugo Boss’ bag. He was riding an old mountain bike which was described as rusty and had a neon yellow strip along the top frame.

Anyone who can help police identify these teens or who has information which could assist the investigation should phone 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting reference 12180141548.