TWO off-duty police officers were takien to hospital after being brutally assaulted in Higham, near Rochester. The pair were attacked as they attempted to arrest four teenagers.

One was beaten with a piece of wood and left with a broken nose and a cracked rib. The incident happened just after midnight on Saturday when an off-duty male officer was walking along Steadman Close, Higham. He saw four youths interfering with a car and challenged them by identifying himself as a policeman. They went to attack him and he called another off-duty officer on his mobile phone, asking her to call the police.

The officer was then assaulted by the four, one using a piece of wood to hit him. When the second officer arrived, she was injured in the struggle before the youths ran off.

The first officer was taken to Darent Valley Hospital with serious cuts, bruises, a broken nose and a cracked rib. The other suffered bruising.

Police arrested two 16-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl the following day in connection with the incident. All three have been bailed without charge pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Dick Olley on 01474 565167 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.