POLICE hunting the thugs who pushed a wheelchair-bound youngster into the road admitted today their search had "hit a dead end".

Despite a painstaking inquiry and the offer of cash rewards from generous benefactors, detectives are no nearer catching the culprits who attacked defenceless Lucy Branton.

In the attack that sickened York, three youths tried to rob Lucy's mum, Leeann, before the ringleader shoved the youngster's specially-adapted wheelchair into a busy road.

As Lucy - who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy - lay helpless in the road at Water Lane, Clifton, the gang walked away laughing.

Police launched an urgent witness appeal. But more than a month since the attack, the offenders are still at large - and now it looks like they may never be punished for the crime.

Acting Detective Sergeant Michelle Falkingham, of York CID, told the Evening Press: "We have hit a bit if a dead end."

One witness, in the Clifton area at the time, came forward after the high-profile attack and this led to the arrest of three youths.

However, police said they were eliminated from the inquiry after Lucy's mum attended an ID parade and looked at snap shots of potential suspects, based on eye-witness accounts.

Acting Det Sgt Falkingham said: "There are no forensic ways forward, so the only feasible way of catching anyone is if Mrs Branton sees them and calls the police."

She said she was surprised more witnesses did not come forward, as Water Lane was "quite busy" at 6.30pm, the time of the attack.

The detective added: "We've put a lot of effort into this case, but have not got anywhere."

Mrs Branton said the prospect of the culprits being caught had kept her going in the wake of the family's ordeal. The thugs tried to rob her bag and pushed her into a hedge before turning on disabled Lucy.

"I'm really upset that people have not come forward. I'm always going to keep hoping, but I really thought the rewards would have made people want to come forward."

She said the attack had scarred Lucy, who had become more insular since the incident .

After the story of the attack featured in the Evening Press, gifts flooded in for Lucy and a £600 reward was put up by kind-hearted readers.

Mrs Branton urged anyone with information about the January 31 attack, particularly parents of the offenders, to contact police. Phone 08456 060247.

Updated: 10:23 Wednesday, March 16, 2005