KNIFE-wielding 10-year-old boys cut a young woman's face as they tried to steal her mobile phone in broad daylight.

The 21-year-old victim bravely fought off the three robbers, but not before they had pushed her, pulled her hair and scratched at her face with the weapon.

The attack comes just days after Ashford's police chief, Supt Peter West, told a public meeting that his officers were losing the battle against young criminals saying some parents were ducking their responsibilities to keep their youngsters in check.

But a top officer has been quick to pinpoint this as an isolated attack and calm worries that the situation is getting out of control.

Ch Insp David Pascoe said: "We take such crimes seriously indeed. However, this is an isolated and unusual incident for this area and we are actively investigating it."

The attack happened between 5.15pm and 5.30pm last Thursday as the woman walked along the footbridge between Elwick Road and Jemmett Road, South Ashford.

She was using her phone when the three boys, all wearing hooded tops or baseball caps, approached and demanded it from her. When she refused they began to attack her, but she courageously defended herself.

One of the boys then pulled out a knife and started to cut her face - leaving her with several small lacerations. However, the woman still refused to hand over her phone and the attackers fled towards Bank Street.

The attackers are described as white, thin, aged 10 and between 4ft 11in and 5ft 4in tall. One was wearing a dark hooded jumper, black jogging bottoms tucked in to his socks and dark trainers. The second attacker was wearing a white hooded jumper, tracksuit bottoms tucked in to his socks and white Nike Air Max trainers with a red tick logo.

The third boy had a Burberry baseball cap on, a grey or blue Nike hooded jumper, dark-coloured trousers and trainers.

Anyone with information is urged to call PC Niki Divine on 01233 619186.