A 17-year-old girl was attacked by a gang after a row over a £6 T-shirt.

Montana Paul, a Coulsdon College student, had her hair ripped out by her attackers in London Road as she was on her way home.

One horrified bystander yelled at the girls to stop while another woman called the police.

Her mother Elaine, 43, said: "Most people just stood there and watched, they did not care, they did not try to stop it.

"These girls ripped out her hair for £6, it is disgusting."

The South Croydon resident said her daughter went to return the top to the girls, when they started to shout at her.

A passerby, fearing for Montana’s safety, managed to get the 17-year-old into her home until the girls dispersed.

She helped her to the bus stop near Somerfield but as she got there, the girls jumped off a bus that had just pulled up and started attacking her.

Mrs Paul said: "The police brought her home, I did not realise anything was wrong until she came into my room crying and showed me her hair."

The mother-of-five said despite the attack, her daughter wanted to go back to school, where she is studying forensic science.

She said: "She is ambitious, all she wants is to do her course work and come home."

The mum said she was proud of her daughter and added: "She had the courage to stand up to them, this time they picked on the wrong girl."

Two 17-year-old girls were arrested on January 28 on suspicion of assault. They have been bailed until late February.