A boy has been forced to wear an attack alarm around his neck while out playing on his bike after he was head-butted by a group of youngsters in south Bristol.

Brandon Hewer, 12, was out with friends in Doulton Way, Whitchurch, when a group of about 10 children, between the ages of seven and 13, surrounded and threatened them, preventing them from leaving the park.

Brandon's disgusted mum Jane told the Post that one of the kids even head-butted her son during the incident, which happened about two weeks ago.

The youngster is now not allowed out of the house without an attack alarm around his neck in case he is threatened or physically assaulted again. Another of his friends is now housebound as his parents are too scared for him to venture outside.

Ms Hewer, who lives in Paddock Gardens, Whitchurch, said: "It is disgusting that a young boy has to wear an attack alarm while out playing.

"My son has just gone into senior school so I've only just allowed him out to play alone. But a group of kids around there are very confrontational, and my son doesn't like confrontation at all.

"The other week he was down in Doulton Way with his friends when a group of 10 children wouldn't let them leave the park and threatened them and told them not to use their mobiles.

"My son got head-butted by one of them and was physically shaken when he got home. Children around there just seem to want to pick fights with children who they perceive to be weaker than them."

Ms Hewer's daughter Chloe, 11, is not allowed outside by herself, and Brandon now has to carry a personal attack alarm with him at all times.

Ms Hewer, who raised the issue at the Hengrove and Stockwood Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting this week, added: "I gave him the attack alarm after this incident because I was scared of what would happen to him. It is just so sad that children around here cannot go out to play without the fear of being threatened."