The mum of a three-year-old girl was shaken and in tears after a gang of rowdy youths allegedly threw a bottle at her daughter as they left McDonald's.
The mum and her daughter had popped into McDonald's on County Road, Kirkby, for a Happy Meal at around 7pm on Sunday, October 2, when they saw the group of eight to ten teenage boys inside the fast food restaurant.
After enjoying a cheeseburger and apple slices, the pair left at around 7.20pm - but as they crossed the road, the mum says she heard a 'massive bang' behind her.
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She said: "I grabbed hold of my daughter and I turned around and saw a full bottle of water at my feet, and the boys across the road shouting, laughing and pointing at me.
"My first thought was that it was aimed at either me or my child, because I was the only person in the area. It almost hit my three-year-old on the head.
"I grabbed my daughter and ran home."
The mum, who suffers from anxiety, says she was shaken by the incident, which also frightened her daughter.
She reported what happened to the police, who offered to provide victim support.
She said: "There was about eight to 10 of them, all wearing tracksuits, some of them on bikes. I couldn't pick any one out of a crowd because they all looked the same to me. I felt scared. I didn't expect to be out as long as I was; it was getting dark and we were all alone in the street.
"When I reported what happened to the police, my anxiety got a lot worse. I don't really go out much. I'm quite a secluded person. When I do go out, it's only to get my daughter out because she's such an active child. This has made me feel very anxious, very scared.
"I've been told don't let it put you off going out, but it's very hard. When I do see groups of boys like that, I only have one thought in my head, I know I shouldn't feel scared of them but I do.
"I've been really upset and crying about it.
"My biggest fear is these youngsters, especially ones that roam around in gangs, have no thought for other people and think they can hurt whoever they want because they know they won't get in trouble. I have to wonder what drives them to do such vile things to other people. I just can't wrap my mind around it. I'm scared for what it's going to be like when my daughter gets older."
A Merseyside police spokesman said: "We can confirm that a report was received of anti-social behaviour in Kirkby last night, Sunday October 2.
"At around 7.30pm, a woman reported that a group of youths were causing a nuisance inside McDonalds on County Road. She reportedly left the premises with her young child before a bottle was allegedly thrown towards her, leaving her shaken.
"The incident was reported later to police. Anyone with information can contact us @MerPolCC with reference 879."
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