Police are investigating after a young girl was attacked while walking to school by a gang of hooded teenagers.
The Timothy Hackworth Primary School pupil was stopped by five youths dressed in black school trousers and zipped up hoodies while making her way through the Hackworth Park area of Shildon.
They are then reported to have assaulted her and pushed her to the ground before fleeing the scene following the intervention of a dog walker.
The victim is understood to have escaped without any serious injuries from the incident, which happened at around 8.30am on Tuesday.
Headteacher Lynn Boulton slammed the behaviour as "disgraceful, intolerable and unacceptable" as she warned parents and pupils to be extra vigilant.
She posted on the school's Facebook page: "If you saw these boys and know who they are, please inform school immediately.
"Unfortunately, these boys set upon one of our female pupils on the way to school, leaving her very upset and shaken by the incident.
"Thank you to the male passer-by walking his dog who stopped to help our pupil. We are very grateful for this.
"Please be extra vigilant if your child walks to and from school alone.
"Local residents, please keep a close eye for any suspicious/criminal behaviour and report this immediately to the police.
"Please pass on any information that you might have, to help to stop this disgraceful, intolerable and unacceptable behaviour which none of us want to witness, or be part of, in our local community."
Durham Constabulary has confirmed an investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information regarding the attack to come forward.
A spokesman said: "We are investigating reports that a girl was assaulted and pushed to the ground by a group of boys while walking alone through a park in Shildon on Tuesday morning.
"Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at approximately 8.30am on Tuesday, is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101 and quote incident number 0070 of March 23."
