THE mum of murdered Sophie Lancaster walked out of court in tears as graphic details of the attack were revealed in a chilling 999 call.

A distressed 15-year-old boy made the call as he saw former Haslingden High School pupils Sophie and boyfriend Rob Maltby being beaten by what the prosec-ution say was a savage and merciless gang of youths.

And in a tape of a police interview played to Preston Crown Court yesterday, the boy said the youths were "running over and jumping up and down on their heads."

A 15-year-old boy is on trial after denying murdering Sophie. A 16-year-old boy has admitted that charge.

Both boys, and three others - two aged 17 and one 16 - have also pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm in relation to the attack on Robert in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, last August.

The prosecution say Sophie, 20 and Robert, 21, who lived together in King Street, Bacup, were singled out because they were dressed like Goths.

In the phone call, the boy could be heard begging for an ambulance, saying: "Just please get to Bacup park....Please they're dying, please, please."

He told the operator two people had been "battered" and they were struggling to breathe. And he described seeing blood coming from their nose, eyes, ears and mouths.

Then, at the sound of harrowing gurgling noises in the background, thought to be from Robert, Sophie's mum Sylvia left the room.

During a taped police interview played to the court the boy said: "I'm sure I seen (the defendant) kicking that girl in the head.

"I think I shouted something and they stopped then. And then all ran off, and I went to my friends look, look' and I went someone's just been kicking that girl on the floor'.

"We all ran over then they all ran off, the group that were there like jogged off."

He said he saw the defendant and the 16-year-old, who has admitted murder attacking Sophie.

He said: "They were the only ones I seen. They were run-ning over and just kicking her in the head and jumping up and down on their heads.

"When I seen it happening I ran over. I'm not just going to stand there and watch am I and let someone get kicked in the head?"

Another witness, who was 17 at the time of the incident, gave evidence via video link.

He too described trying to stop the attack before walking home the boy who has admitted murder.

Sophie and Robert were found by paramedics lying unconscious and side-by-side. Due to the severity of their facial injuries, paramedics were unable to tell their sex.

Sophie died two weeks after the attack without regaining consciousness.

Undergraduate Robert made a partial recovery, the jury has been told.

(Proceeding)