Girl's arm broken in gang attack

The attack started near the Sands Centre in Carlisle

A teenage girl was beaten with a brick and her hair set alight during an attack in Carlisle, police have said.

The 17-year-old is in hospital with broken bones, after what police described as a horrifying incident.

Cumbria Police said the girl was caught in an underpass near the Sands Centre shortly after 1800 GMT on Monday.

She was then dragged to the Swifts golf course by a group of at least five youths.

Broken arm

A police spokesman said: "The victim was subjected to an hour-long attack, during which she was beaten with a golf flag and a brick before being robbed.

"Her hair was also set alight and she was kicked as she lay on the golf course."

The teenager is in hospital with a suspected broken nose, a fractured arm and severe cuts.

Clothing discarded

The spokesman added: "This was a horrifying incident.

"It started after a group of teenagers left The Lanes area of the city at around 1800 GMT and headed through an underpass towards the Sands Centre.

"We believe that some items of the offenders' clothing may have been discarded in outbuildings or sheds."