A GOOD samaritan was assaulted while trying to stop a gang of 20 youths “stamping a kid to death”.

Jamie Gibson, 44, was walking his dog through Bonchurch Park, Leigh, when he witnessed the brawl taking place.

Sharing the incident on Facebook, he wrote: “This was the outcome of stopping at least 20 youths stamping a kid to death. 15 on one and they run. Brave boys.”

Mr Gibson, whose post has been shared more than 100 times also shared pictures of his bloody nose and cuts to his ear. Police are now investigating the incident.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were contacted at 8.10pm on Saturday, May 19 with reports of a fight involving a large group of youths in Bonchurch Avenue, Leigh.

“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area, but there was no trace of those involved.

“A 44-year-old man also contacted us at 8.15pm reporting he had attempted to intervene in the disturbance and was assaulted by a group of youths.

“He was left with cuts that were not described as serious.”

Residents in the park’s surrounding streets say this is just the latest incident in an escalating spate of violent antisocial behaviour.

One woman, who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said: “We have had an ongoing crime issue in that park.

“It has slowly been escalating to what happened on Saturday. We constantly have police around but they are struggling. When they do show up, the kids just laugh at them and say they can’t prove anything - it’s like they are untouchable.

“All the residents are in a Whatsapp group and we are just hoping that parents will read this and start asking what their children are up to in the evening because this has to stop. It is such intimidating behaviour.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.