A HAVE-A-GO councillor who was attacked by six yobs insisted last night that he is no hero - just stubborn.

Mental health nurse Lee Narroway found himself driven at by a teenager on an off-road trials bike, then clubbed across the back as a gang closed in.

The 35-year-old said: "I was lucky I was not injured. It was not until afterwards I realised I could have been in a lot of trouble.

"You don't realise at the time, because the adrenaline is running. You don't think of these things.

"I just made a decision and I stuck to it - just stubborn.''

Coun Narroway, leader of the Ingleby Barwick Independents on Stockton BoroughCouncil, decided to act after a worried mother drew his attention to the teenage terrors creating havoc on a bridleway where children play.

The group of off-road bikers was the latest episode in a two-year saga of anti-social behaviour on rough ground housing a Northumbrian Water Authority pumping station, behind Marchlyn Crescent, Ingleby Barwick.

Coun Narroway said: "I called the enforcement team after I had seen a group of youths riding an off-road motorcycle on a bridle path used by horse riders, dog walkers and children.''

He said he went to observe the group, to identify them and watch where they went, to pass on details to the council's enforcement team, not meaning to get directly involved.

"But I was challenged by one of the youths who was riding the bike," he said. "He fell off the bike and I was then set upon by the remainder of the group.''

As the father-of-two placed his foot on the toppled motorcycle which had come speeding towards him, another member of the gang came up behind him and struck him across the back.

Fortunately, an off-duty policeman who had witnessed the episode intervened.

Police and enforcement officers and parish wardens arrived shortly afterwards, even as a crowd of 20 youths gathered at the scene.

Coun Narroway said the officials "acted calmly and professionally preventing an ugly situation from escalating".

Police arrested the youth who attacked Coun Narroway and gave the youngster an official warning.