A dangerous gang of youths in South Croydon beat a schoolboy around the head with a stick as he walked just 200 yards from his school gates.

The 14-year-old victim, who was with a class mate when he left Haling Manor School, Kendra Hall Road, on Friday afternoon, was approached by four teenagers.

Two youths hit the schoolboy while another casually spoke on his mobile phone.

Police have warned that a gang is behind the "particularly vicious attack", which happened in this secluded part of South Croydon at around 3.40pm on Friday.

Investigating officer, PC Mark Mitchell, said the victim was seriously injured on the back of his head, and was taken to Mayday Hospital.

PC Mitchell said: "I am told he is very lucky that it wasn't much more serious. The doctor said the most serious blow happened to be to the hardest rather than the softest part of his head."

He added: "This a very dangerous gang who could prey on other children and I would ask those people who drove past or may have seen the attack from a window to contact me."

Headmaster Mr John Troake said he would not be increasing an already strong staff presence outside his school, though he was "concerned" by the attack which he claimed is the first of its kind.

Mr Toake said he was confident the attackers were not pupils at Haling Manor, and that the incident was not a result of any inter-school rivalry.

Police say only two members of the gang are suspects and that the schoolboys tried to walk away after being intimidated, but the second boy was grabbed by an attacker.

Another gang member pushed the victim against a parked car, before hitting him on the shoulders and head with a piece of wood he had found in the gutter, while the first member stole a Game Boy from his pocket before the gang ran away.

One suspect is described as black, around 5ft 7in, and wearing a blue Nike "doggy" hat with ear flaps, a long black coat and black jeans.

The other is described as around 5ft 9in, black, and wearing a Nike baseball cap with red sides and a cream peak, and a red hooded top.

Call PC Mitchell at South Norwood Robbery Squad on 020 8768 1212 with information, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.