A MOTHER has described a gang involved in a disturbance during which her daughter's nose was broken as "cowards".

Debbie Dunning is still shocked her daughter Samantha was beaten-up as she walked home from school.

The 15-year-old Smithills pupil had to go to hospital and was left with a broken nose and a black eye after the attack.

Mrs Dunning said: "I'm very angry and horrified that a 15-year-old girl can't walk home from school without being attacked.

"You don't think boys would do that to a girl."

Samantha, who moved to Elgin Street from Surrey 18 months ago, was walking along Halliwell Road with her boyfriend when a group of boys began calling him.

They started running at him and he fled.

Mrs Dunning said it was when Samantha began asking them why they were targeting him that violence flared and she was injured.

Mrs Dunning, who works in the insurance business, said: "Samantha went into school the day after the attack to show them they had not hurt her mentally. But I think she is still shocked at what has happened. She has never been assaulted like this before."

Police have arrested a pupil at Smithills School and released him on bail, pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for the school said the fight, at 3.35pm on Tuesday, was an isolated incident and they had co-operated fully with the police.