POLICE last night appealed for witnesses to an apparently motiveless attack on two teenage girls.

Charlotte Murish, 15 of Trimdon, County Durham, was waiting for a bus with her friend Stacey Harris, 16, of Langley Park, when they were approached by six teenagers.

Stacey said one of the teenagers snatched her mobile phone and pushed her head against the bus shelter.

Two girls started punching Charlotte in the head and as she fell to the floor, two boys kicked her in the abdomen and head.

Stacey ran home to get help from her mother, Gillian Harris.

Mrs Harris said: "They are very quiet girls. I cannot understand why they would attack them like this."

The gang made off with the phone, which was Stacey's Christmas present, £5 in cash and they tore out her earrings.

Charlotte was left with a cut mouth, cuts and bumps on her head, a possible broken nose, two black eyes and star shaped cut on her cheeks - possibly made by a ring.

Detective Sergeant Vic Deans, of Consett CID, said: "We have gathered information from the girls and identified certain people we believe to be involved and they will be interviewed."

Witnesses are asked to call the police on 0845 60 60 365.