A 16-YEAR-OLD boy was viciously attacked by a gang of thugs with knuckle dusters, a baseball ball and a metal bar while he was out with friends on Formby Beach.

Charlie Sanderson, from Lowton, was enjoying the sunshine on Tuesday with around 10 of his friends and decided to head to Formby Beach on the train.

After enjoying their time there, it all went wrong when a 16 strong gang of youths approached them and beat Charlie with weapons.

They kicked and punched him to the extent that Charlie's friends though "they were going to kill him".

Eventually a passer by stopped the attack, which left former Golborne High student Charlie with horrific lacerations to his head and all over his back.

Charlie's mum Claire Husband, 39, is looking to raise awareness of dangers in the area and is urging people to come forward with information that helps police catch this group.

Leigh Journal:

The cuts to his head after the incident

She said: "Charlie and his friends aren't streetwise kids but in the holidays they like to organise days out so planned to go to Formby on the train.

"They got there and were playing football when Charlie heard one of his friends being shouted at by this group of 16 lads who came over.

"He went over and said 'we don't want any trouble, just leave us alone,' and that's when the biggest lad apparently punched him in the face.

"After that his friends said the whole gang just started attacking him, using knuckle dusters with spikes on, metal bars which extended, a baseball bat and the rest were kicking him.

"One of his friends, this lovely girl, tried to help him and they also punched her in the stomach and the ribs.

"Eventually, thank god, a woman who was walking in the sand dunes ran over and they eventually stopped and ran away, but not before one of them gave him one last kick in the stomach.

"His friends said every hit of the bar saw blood spurting in the air – they thought they were going to kill him.

"He just went in a ball, which is why his head and back got it all."

Police then attended and spoke to Charlie and his friends before the group made their way home, but after walking to Formby Train station they claim that they again saw the gang.

Cosmetic tattooist, Claire, added: "I want to thank the staff at Formby train station who hid my son and his friends when they saw the gang there.

"My son ended up collapsing on the train and I went to pick him up at Liverpool Central and took him to Liverpool Royal where thankfully scans showed that he had no massive injury and they glued the cuts on his head.

Leigh Journal:

Charlie has cuts and scratches all over his body, which his mum said days later has left him "unable to move"

"My son was beaten so badly that now he is struggling to walk; they could have killed him.

"Now a couple of days on it's really hit home and I'm so grateful he's as all right as he is.

"Please be aware if you go to Formby Beach and I hope this gang are caught soon.

"They should be ashamed of themselves."

An investigation has now been launched to find the offenders, who were reported to have dispersed into the sand dunes before the attendance of police

They are described as white, around 13 to 15 years-old and with long hair. They spoke with Liverpool accents.

One wore a red top and a second wore a hi-vis Under Armour top.

Leigh Journal:

Charlie was punched in the face at the start of the attack

Officers made enquiries to locate the offenders at the scene and spoke to potential witnesses.

Police state that a group of men were spoken to who did not match the description of the offenders. CCTV enquiries in the area are ongoing.

Detective Inspector Paul Gillies said: “This was a shocking incident and we believe someone out there knows who is responsible.

“This happened on one of the hottest days of the year and there were many people there enjoying the sunshine. Those people should have been able to enjoy their day at the beach without fear of an incident such as this happening.

Leigh Journal:

His cuts to his head were glued in hospital

“We believe members of the public will have seen this group leaving the scene and there may well be people who witnessed the offence itself who have not yet come forward.

“If you recognise the description of the offenders or have any information at all about the incident, do the right thing and help us bring the offenders to justice by contacting police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC.

You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 19100401147 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.