POLICE are appealing for witnesses to two separate incidents after teenage boys were attacked. In the first assault, a 13-year-old boy, of eastern European origin, was attacked in Gillingham High Street by three youths.

The boy was hit around the head after he made a call from a telephone kiosk at the junction of Saxton Street. The boy stepped out of the kiosk and was then approached by the gang who asked if he had any cigarettes.

He said he didn't and was then attacked.

The boy was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and was later transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. He is now recovering at home. The attack happened at around 11pm on Saturday, February 23.

Sgt Tim Cook said: "This was an unprovoked attacked and has caused distress to the victim and his family. I would urge anyone who was in the High Street around this time and who could help identify the offenders to contact us immediately." Police are treating the attack as grievous bodily harm but do not believe it was racially motivated.

In the second attack, the victim was a 16-year-old who was punched to the ground by a gang of youths who asked him if he had any pills. The boy had said no and kept walking but was surrounded by the gang and punched in the face, causing him to fall.

The attack happened as the victim, who is from Chatham, came out of a shop with a friend in the town's Kestrel Road at 8.45pm on March 2. The victim was severely shaken by the assault and was grazed on one side of his face and mouth.

PC Anne Adams said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Kestrel Road to contact us immediately if they can help identify this group of youths." The youth alleged to have hit the victim is described as white, aged 16 to 18, medium build with short blond hair and wearing dark glasses. Anyone with information about either attack should contact Medway Police on 01634 884252 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.