A MOTHER has thanked four girls she believes saved her son's life when he was attacked by two thugs.

Manjula Patel is convinced Dillon, aged 16, would have been punched and kicked to death if the girls had not come to his rescue.

He was assaulted by the youths who demanded cash from him near the Bolton Show fair in Leverhulme Park.

Only the intervention of the girls, who dragged the robbers off him, prevented Dillon from being more seriously injured.

Mrs Patel, aged 50, of Willowbank Avenue, The Haulgh, dreads to think what would have happened if the girls had not come to his rescue.

"I honestly think Dillon would have been killed if these girls had not helped him," she said.

"He was bad enough anyway. There was blood coming out of his mouth and his nose."

She added: "I want those two lads to come and see what they have done to Dillon. I want their parents to come too and see what has happened to my son."

The former St James CE Secondary School pupil had his jaw broken in three places and suffered bruising to his face in the unprovoked attack at the Bolton Show on Friday night.

It was around 9.25pm, after the firework display, when he went looking for a friend at the fair.

He was approached by the thugs who demanded money. Dillon did not have a penny on him. The youths, who did not believe him, punched him.

He ran off, but the robbers caught up with him and punched him to the ground before they kicked him several times in the face.

The girls, who had witnessed the first assault at the fair, dragged the youths off and called an ambulance. Detectives were today continuing their hunt for the attackers.

They are described as white, aged 16 to 17, with local accents, both wearing tracksuit bottoms, Rockport boots and smelling of drink.

One was of large build, 5ft 10 ins in height, had short brown hair and was wearing a Reebok T-shirt.

The second attacker is of smaller build, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 9ins tall, with mousey brown short hair and wearing a T-shirt.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bolton CID on 0161-856-5751.

Are you one of the girls who came to Dillon's aid, or do you know who they are? Contact the BEN newsdesk on 01204 361270.