A 'sickening' video of a mass brawl showing children kicking and punching each other left many readers asking why parents allowed their children to meet in large groups during a national lockdown.
Police were called to the fight on Wednesday, February 17, which involved children as young as 12, on Bridge Road in Litherland.
According to witnesses, the teens were seen punching, kicking and trailing each other by the hair in shocking scenes that were caught on video.
The fight broke out shortly after 6.30pm, with police being called minutes later to reports of a "disturbance".
One witness reported seeing a young girl with head injuries after she was allegedly "stamped on".
A shocking video from the scene showed a large crowd of young people fighting each other, while screams could be heard.
After the ECHO published the story yesterday, hundreds of readers took to Facebook and the ECHO website to criticise the children and their parents for a perceived lack of discipline.
Trish O'Dwyer posted: "That makes me feel physically sick, seriously where do all their parents think their kids are? Literally cannot believe that. Disgusting beyond words."
Liz Bassett said: "This just makes me feel sick! Literally watched maybe five seconds of it. When did kids become such monsters, absolutely horrible! Who rears these horrors?"
Enter your postcode below to find the latest figures where you live
Violetta Czappan asked: "Why are they out? Aren’t we in lockdown? And where are their parents? But even if we weren't in lockdown why is a 12 year old out on the streets alone or with friends?
"When I was 12 I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere other than the one playground by our house so my mum was able to watch me from our window. These kids nowadays are honestly horrible, not even acting like kids."
Laura Russell felt punishment needed to extend to the parents: "Fine their parents. We are in lockdown, how do the parents let their children out to meet in groups?"
Hoppop posting on the ECHO website agreed: "Take them home fine the parents £10,000 shouldn't be out and never in gangs".
Ian Ball said: "There has been for years issues with kids running riot as the parents have had the right to parent taken away from them and with the lacklustre way punishments are handed out to offenders.
"Kids see breaking the law or being arrested is a badge of honour. Not mentioning the police have fewer resources due to cutbacks to get these feral kids into court."
It is not clear at this stage what started the altercation or why a large group were meeting up while lockdown restrictions still apply.
Merseyside Police are investigating the fight but said that officers managed to break it up.
The children were returned home by police and their parents were told about what had happened.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the force also said that reports suggested a 13-year-old had been taken to hospital after the fight but no injuries were reported to them.
It said: "At around 6.50pm yesterday (Wednesday 17 February) police received reports of disturbance involving a group of youths on Bridge Road, Litherland.
"It was reported that around 20 youths, aged between 12 and 14 years old, were fighting.
"Police attended the scene and ensured that those involved were returned home and parents were advised of the incident.
"A 13-year-old female was reported to have been assaulted and was taken to hospital, but no injuries were reported."
Anyone who witnessed this incident, recognises anyone involved, or has any information can contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 805 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
