Public schoolboys attacked in invaders’ drunken rampage

A GANG of drunken youths went on the rampage in the grounds of a public school after a charity fireworks display.

Twenty pupils had to be treated for fractures, cuts and bruising after they were set upon by the group of more than 100.

The troublemakers, who were armed with chains and bottles, were said to have used mobile phones to co- ordinate the attack on Wellington College in Berkshire.

Police community support officers, who were on duty at the Bonfire Night event after trouble at a college event earlier in the year, had to call for back-up to quell the disturbance, which lasted half an hour.

Teachers who were at the event, which raised more than £ 7,000, described the attack as ‘violent and premeditated’. Act- ing master Robin Dyer said: ‘The first pupil to be attacked was a boy on crutches who was pushed to the ground and then beaten.

‘ Unfortunately, the police attending the event were overwhelmed by the numbers in the gang. This is one of several events we host for the local community and it is extremely sad that such a positive activity ended in violence.’

The sanatorium of the 150-yearold college in Crowthorne was turned into a makeshift hospital to treat the injured boys. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: ‘ About 1,000 people attended the event, which ended around 9pm.

‘ At 9.15pm, when there were still a large number of people in the grounds, pupils were allegedly attacked by a large group of youths from outside the school, leading to disturbances at different locations around the college site.

‘ Additional police resources, including police dogs, attended the scene and assisted in putting a stop to the disorder.’

There were no arrests, the spokesman added.

The Bonfire Night fracas is the latest in a series of incidents at the £22,000-a-year school, which counts news presenter Peter Snow and pop singer Will Young among its alumni.

In January, seven girls were taken to hospital after apparently having their drinks spiked at a joint ‘ social’ with a nearby girls’ school.

And in April, it emerged that police and social services had been called in to investigate allegations of bullying.