POLICE are hunting four boys who kicked and punched a nine-year-old lad in a Chudleigh park.

Two adults intervened as the quartet of thugs set about the youngster in the Fore Street play park over the weekend.

The violence unfolded at 4pm on Sunday with the offenders leaving their victim with injuries.

Officers are anxious to trace the culprits and speak to the grown-ups who went to the rescue of the child.

A police spokesman said it was thought the Good Samaritans were from Bovey Tracey.

He said the pair did ‘a great job’ – but police needed to speak them as witnesses to a crime.

‘The nine-year-old boy was kicked and punched by four older boys causing some injury.

‘The assault was serious enough for the adults to intervene and take the boy home,’ he said.

Anyone able to throw some light on the identity of the attackers – or those who intervened – should ring police on 101, quoting crime CR/070136/16.