A TEENAGE boy was left injured and 'petrified' after he was attacked and chased by masked youths 'armed with an axe and knives'. 

Tyler, whose surname we have agreed not to publish, was punched in the face in Cripplegate Park in St John's, Worcester on Friday.

He and friends - two females and a male - say they were ambushed by a gang of '10 youths wearing balaclavas' during the incident at around 8pm.

The 17-year-old ultimately ran into New Road after he says he saw weapons produced by two members of the gang.

The boy's family feel his life was saved when a mum, who wished to be known only as Luci, stopped in New Road in Worcester after the boy ran into traffic trying to escape his pursuers.  She called the police who later made an arrest in the park. 

The boy's mum told the Worcester News he was walking through the park when the group asked Tyler to follow them down an alleyway into a more secluded part of the park.

His mum said: "Tyler didn't go. He walked another way. There was a bit of an argument and one lad punched Tyler - and Tyler punched him back. 

"Two of them pulled out knives and axes so Tyler legged it. That's when he ended up running in the road and he nearly ended up getting run over.

"He's absolutely petrified - anyone would be. He hasn't really gone out since."

The youth from Droitwich, who is described by his mum as 'not a fighter', later had to attend A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester because of an injury to his face.

Tyler has refused to give a statement to West Mercia Police. Tyler's mum said: "I dread to think what would have happened if Luci had not been there at that time - if she had not finished work early and was not in the right place at the right time."

Luci said she had been driving over Worcester Bridge when youths ran out into New Road, near Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

"This is Worcester, not the Bronx," she said describing her shock upon being told that some of the youths giving chase were armed.

She said: "I was driving down and some kids were running out in the road. I beeped the horn and slowed down and wound the window down and shouted at the boys to not run in the road.

"The one boy was visibly upset and begged to get in my car as he said the other boy had a knife and was chasing him.

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"I stayed with him until his friends arrived. A lad with a ski mask on was on the other side of the road trying to see where the lad had gone. I have a big car so he couldn’t see him. His friends arrived and said ‘did you know that was going to happen?’

"I was told, two of them had knives and one had a mini axe. I called the police and apparently, the lads have been arrested."

She said she understood some of those involved were 15 years old and that the boy who ran into New Road was 'visibly shaken up' and feared he was going to be stabbed.

"I was a bit shaken up - but I could not leave him," she said.

She was told there had been a fight in Cripplegate Park.

The mum said the mother and grandmother of the boy who had asked to get in her car had since been in touch. "They contacted me saying 'thank you for saving his life', saying I'm a hero. His mum says he's terrified."

Her original post on Facebook was shared 130 times.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We were called to New Street in Worcester shortly after 8pm on Friday following a report of a group of youths with weapons.

"Officers attended and located a group of youths in Cripplegate Park, however no weapons were found.

"A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and has since been released on bail."