TEENAGE "gangs" are clashing on the streets of York, it was claimed today.

Daniel Scott - a so-called Goth, who wears black clothes - claims he has been assaulted twice then mugged by "townie" gangs. He said several of his pals had suffered similar attacks.

One, he said, was punched in the face with a sovereign ring - as the "sick" culprits filmed the attack on a mobile phone.

Daniel, 16, told how gang members as young as eight carry knives, and death threats are regularly issued.

In another incident, he said a lone teenage girl was picked off by a townie gang - identified by their sports clothing and baseball caps - and left nursing a broken rib.

Daniel said the spate of attacks left him and his friends afraid to walk the city streets, amid fears someone would soon be seriously injured.

He decided to speak out in a bid to halt the rising tide of trouble.

He said young "Goths" were victimised because of the way they look. He branded the split between the two main teen groups "ludicrous" but added: "I understand some people may not like this look, but is it fair I have to be beaten up for not wearing sports clothing?

"It's like gang warfare," admitted the Haxby A-level student.

"Everywhere we go to hang about they just seem to find us. It's like we are barred from our own city.

"We don't cause anyone any harm but we don't want to fight - we just want to be left alone."

The Joseph Rowntree School pupil told how gang of up to ten townies cornered one of his friends near the Museum Gardens.

In another attack, he said a 14-year-old girl needed hospital treatment after being punched and kicked to the floor by a gang of seven boys.

And he said he had his nose broken in an assault at the Station Rise War Memorial. In another incident, Goths were trapped inside a city fast food outlet.

He said a lack of facilities for older teenagers was a real problem in the city.

Coun Ceredig Jamieson-Ball chaired the Young People in York Scrutiny Panel, which recently reported on teenage views on city life.

He said the details of gang violence were "concerning" and said the issue was raised in the panel's research. Teenagers were as concerned about gangs as older residents were, the report revealed, and stressed the need for a centralised venue.

Police said a report of a youth being assaulted by a group of ten had been received. A fast food outlet had reported a gang of youths goading staff on the night Daniel said he and his friends were trapped inside.

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, March 03, 2005