A STUDENT had his jaw fractured by a gang of school kids in a "vicious and cowardly" attack in Runcorn.

At 7.15pm last Tuesday, the 17-year-old walked out of The Heath Campus, in Clifton Road, and walked towards Moughland Lane.

He passed a group of six or seven males and two females, all aged 15-16, who shouted comments to him.

Police said one of the group then confronted him and punched him in the face, fracturing his lower left jaw.

The attacker was joined by more of the gang, who repeatedly punched and kneed him. They left him with a bruised and swollen scalp and nose, a cut right eyebrow and a black eye. The whole gang then ran off towards Beechwood.

Det Con Richard Kew, of Runcorn CID, said: "This was a vicious, cowardly and totally unprovoked attack. They were going to beat up someone and it just happened to be this lad. We are very keen to catch the people who did this."

A group of men in a small, white car and two women in another white car, possibly a Ford Escort, offered to help the victim. Detectives are keen to talk to them as they are potential witnesses.

The first attacker is described as around 5ft 9ins tall, of slightly heavier than average build, with close-cut all over brown hair and a Liverpool accent. He had a pale face and a clear complexion. He wore a predominantly dark-coloured tracksuit top, with some lighter colouring.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Richard Kew on 01244-613914 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.