A schoolboy was left with a gaping wound after he was attacked in a park as his mum fears violent youths in her area.
Larry Robb, seven, was attacked by a teenage boy who was playing at the park with his brother near his home in Ferryden, Angus on Monday.
The thug smashed Larry's head against a metal railing, splitting his scalp open and causing it to pour blood.
He was later taken to the hospital where he had his wound glued by medics.
Furious mum Colleen, who owns a bridal hair and unisex hairdressing salon in Angus town, said the boy who attacked Larry is a pupil at nearby Montrose Academy and that "out of control" youths were running riot in the area.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Colleen said: "Larry has been left traumatised by this attack and he's now scared to go out or walk to school on his own.
"His older brother Fletcher, who is only eight, ran home screaming. He was hysterical because he had witnessed it."
She added: "It's happening all the time with older pupils across the town beating up other kids - the children are out of control."
She added: "There are children around here scared to go to school because of this behaviour.
"It's happening all the time at the Academy - kids beating up other kids. The children are out of control. I fear for what these youths will become as adults."
Local councillor Tommy Stewart said he was "shocked and disappointed" by the attack on Larry and called for more to be done to prevent youth violence.
He said: "More prevention work needs to take place around incidents like this. There needs to be more education about consequences, empathy and respect."
Police Scotland confirmed it was looking into the attack. A spokesperson said: “We received a report that a seven-year-old boy had been assaulted at Ferryden Park, Montrose on Monday, April 24.
“The boy attended Ninewells Hospital for treatment. Officers are following a positive line of enquiry.”
Speaking on behalf of Montrose Academy, an Angus Council spokesperson said: "We are aware that Police Scotland is investigating an incident in the Ferryden area in which a child was injured and are offering any relevant assistance to those police inquiries."
The Mirror contacted Angus Council for a comment.
