A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after three girls were attacked outside McDonald's and in a park by a gang of youths, leaving one of the victims needing surgery on her wrist.

The assault began when the victims, two aged 12 and one aged 13, were outside the fast food restaurant in Week Street, on Tuesday, at around 3pm.

After half a dozen boys began striking them with protective sponge tubing, which they had taken from nearby scaffolding poles, the group were surrounded by about 25 boys and girls, aged between 13 and 16, who began swearing at their victims and pushing and shoving them.

The mother of one of the victims described how the trio were corralled towards Brenchley Gardens, where they were pushed, hit, tripped over and had silver nitrous oxide cannisters thrown at their faces.

A pregnant lady intervened, but she was then threatened and left.

The mum believes the gang wanted to provoke a fight, which they could then film.

The victims were eventually able to escape to a nearby shop, and when the mum arrived, they were "hysterical, sobbing and crying".

This evening, Kent Police has confirmed that officers investigating the assault have arrested a 13-year-old boy.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "The suspect was detained on Friday, October 29, in connection with the incident that is reported to have happened at around 3pm on Tuesday 26 October in Brenchley Gardens.

"He has since been released on bail until Tuesday 23 November.

"Enquiries to identify further suspects, who are understood to be boys and girls of a similar age, are ongoing."

The attack led the mum, who asked for anonymity, to warn her friends not to go to Maidstone, adding "It's not safe."

Ch Insp Gary Woodward, Kent Police’s District Commander for Maidstone, said in response that police work with a number of agencies to ensure Maidstone remains "a safe town for residents and visitors to enjoy."

He said: "The levels of disorder we see in Maidstone are not dissimilar to what can be observed in other large towns, but we will always take the view that one crime is one crime too many. "

"To combat this, we regularly patrol high footfall areas and routinely share information with partner agencies to ensure crime is prevented and incidents are quickly responded to."

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference number 46/216477/21.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or by using the online form on their website.

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