A 16-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being assaulted by a gang of fellow teenagers in Blagdon Park, New Malden.

The victim was rushed to accident and emergency at Kingston Hospital after the attack at 7.30pm last night left him with life threatening head injuries.

He has since been transferred to Atkinson Morley Hospital in central London for specialist treatment.

Police believe the eight-strong gang of black males, believed to be between 16 and 19 years old, escaped the scene on the 152 bus along Burlington Road, after initially making their way to the park from New Malden station.

Chief Inspector John Pendleton said: “This was a particularly nasty incident and thankfully a rare occurrence in Kingston.

“We urgently need to trace anyone that has any information on this investigation to insure that these offenders are brought to justice and that they are not free to commit any more crimes of this nature.”

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Kingston CID on 020 8247 4909, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

• Do you know the victim? Phone Mike Didymus on 020 8330 9553 or click here to email.