Girls pulled off bikes and beaten

Two girls suffered serious facial injuries when they were attacked by a gang and pulled off their bicycles.

Police said the attack on the 14-year-olds in Blackhall Woods in the west of Edinburgh was "nasty and completely unprovoked".

The girls were riding their mountain bikes near Ravelston Dykes Road when they were attacked by a group of four boys and three girls.

They were dragged off their bikes and subjected to a sustained beating.

The teenage attackers kicked their victims in the head and body and kept up their attack for several minutes.

They were just riding their bikes near the woods when they were pulled off them and viciously assaulted by this group of youths Police spokesman

One of the girls suffered a broken nose and possible broken cheekbone and both were badly cut and bruised.

They managed to get home to raise the alarm and their bikes were recovered later on Sunday afternoon.

A police spokesman said: "This was a particularly nasty and completely unprovoked assault which left two young girls with very bad injuries to their faces.

"They were just riding their bikes near the woods when they were pulled off them and viciously assaulted by this group of youths.

"We are appealing for anyone who has any information about the assault especially members of the public who were near Blackhall Woods on Sunday afternoon to contact us as this group of youths may have been hanging around for some time."