A GROUP of youths 'danced like boxers' as they attacked a married couple in Canford Heath, the victims say.

Diane White and husband Mark were returning to their home in Southbrook Close from The Haymoor pub when they say they were set upon by a group of children as young as 11 on Saturday evening.

Mrs White said she was thrown to the ground and kicked during the attack, while Mr White was reportedly hit in the head and pinned down by the throat.

When police arrived, they arrested Mr White on suspicion of affray. He was later de-arrested.

Mrs White, who has lived in Canford Heath for more than 40 years, said: "I know you get big groups of kids who sit in the park sometimes, but I've never known there to be any aggression.

"As we were walking home we went past this gang of 10 to 15 young people aged between 11 and 14 or so, and suddenly we were attacked.

"One either slapped or punched my husband around the head and they started taking turns to do it. I tried to get them off him but they grabbed my hoodie and swung me around so I fell on the ground.

"When I was down, they kicked me in the head and face."

An adult man, believed to be the father of one of the children involved, then joined the assault.

"We think one of the boys went home and told his dad that my husband was trying to hit him," Mrs White said.

"This man came over and got my husband on the floor by the throat.

"The police turned up after that but ended up arresting my husband instead."

Mr and Mrs White were then taken to separate hospitals to be treated for their injuries.

"My husband's head had to be glued," she said.

"No one would tell me where he was or what was going on. He was arrested, although they later de-arrested him and basically left him at the hospital without a phone or any money.

"He ended up walking home from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to Canford Heath, and when he got back he said they were dancing around him like boxers.

"What I want to know is, what's being done about this? It seems like the police have simply dropped their investigation and no one's interested any more."

Bournemouth Echo:

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said the incident is not directly linked to numerous reports of anti-social behaviour in Canford Heath during the summer.

"We were called at 5.49pm on Saturday, November 3 to reports of a man assaulting a teenage boy in Chaldon Park," the spokesperson said.

"Officers attended and established that an altercation had occurred between a man and a woman and a group of teenage boys.

"The man sustained a small cut to the top of his head and the woman a black eye. No visible injuries were sustained by the boys.

"On arrival, a man was seen to pin a boy to the ground and refused officers’ requests to let him go.

"As a result, a 48-year-old man from Poole, was arrested on suspicion of affray. He was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and was de-arrested at hospital while he underwent treatment.

"Following enquiries, both sides gave different stories as to what happened and therefore it could not be established who instigated the incident, who assaulted who or what happened.

"There were no independent witnesses."