A distraught mum has told of the “horrible” moment she saw a teenager being set upon by a gang of as many as 15 youngsters.

Travel agent Hazel Gardiner, 50, was drinking in the Saxon Shore Wetherspoon pub in Herne Bay with a friend last night when she heard a commotion outside.

The mum-of-one rushed out of the pub to find the 19-year-old man lying in a pool of blood next to the clock tower, surrounded by a gang of youths.

Mrs Gardiner said: “There was a group of kids stamping on this guy's head and kicking him over and over.

"There were about 10 to 15 of them and they were as young as 14.

“The attackers had stamped on his head until he was pouring with blood and he could easily have died.

"He was unconscious with blood pouring from his ears and head.

“We can't just pretend it's not happening - we don't need this sort of thing, it's just horrible.”

"One of the girls there said he was drunk, but he was an innocent man walking along who had been beaten to a pulp..." - witness Hazel Gardiner

Mrs Gardiner’s friend, Tracey Collins, called emergency services from the scene in Central Parade.

They were alerted at about 9pm and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mrs Gardiner, who lives in Hampton, added: “I don't think they would have stopped - he was a complete stranger to them.

“One of the girls there said he was drunk, but he was an innocent man walking along who had been beaten to a pulp.

“The guy was lying there unconscious - Tracey eventually got him round and she was talking to him.”

Last month, police put a dispersal order in place over a weekend in Herne Bay to curb drunken and anti-social behaviour in the town.

The order gave officers extra powers to deal with anti-social behaviour following a number of reports of nuisance.

Ambulance crews confirmed the man suffered facial injuries and that two vehicles were sent to the scene just before 9pm.

The victim was taken to the QEQM hospital in Margate.

Police spokesman Scarlet Jones said last night’s incident is being looked at.

She said: “We are investigating a report of an assault following an incident in Central Parade, Herne Bay just before 9pm on Wednesday, April 6.

“A man aged in his late teens was reportedly assaulted and received bruising to his face and upper body.

“Officers attended the scene and inquiries are ongoing.”