A Darlington couple have spoken of their terror after being attacked outside their home by a gang of youths.

The 37-year-old husband was beaten so badly in the attack on Monday evening that he has been forced to take time off work with bruised ribs, a swollen jaw and cuts to his face and neck.

His wife, 32, said the assault, in an alleyway in Kensington Gardens, was totally unprovoked.

Youths who were throwing stones at a street light outside the couple's home approached the woman as she shut her gate at about 10pm.

"There were about four lads between the ages of 14 and 16," she said.

"They were acting strangely, unusually cocky. I thought they might have taken drugs.

"I didn't say anything to them, but one lad put his hand out to shake my hand.

"As I put my hand out, I felt something hit me on the back of my head."

The woman went inside her house and called the police.

Her husband went to speak to the youths but they knocked him to the ground.

"At one point, there were about eight lads kicking him and thumping him," she said.

"Two of them were holding him down."

The woman was struck again and sworn at as she tried to intervene.

The couple managed to get back inside their home and the gang fled when police arrived.

The frightened pair, who have asked not to be named, are calling on police to take action to tackle the anti-social behaviour problem in the Yarm Road area.

"The police took about 20 minutes to arrive, which shocked me as I told them I had been struck," said the woman.

"We feel as though nobody is interested. We just want to live our lives and this should not be happening outside our home."

Residents say that youths regularly gather in the alley in Kensington Gardens and cause nuisance at night.

Inspector Bill Bentham, of Darlington police, said officers attended the incident within nine minutes of the woman's call and would be taking statements from the couple today.

"The beat officer for that area will be informed to find out if there is a problem in relation to that cut," he said.

"If there is, we can tackle it with the help of our anti-social behaviour unit and the council."