A VICIOUS gang of girls launched a savage assault on a teenager after taunting her outside a chip shop.

Today the victim's mother called for action against the "cowardly" gang as the chip shop owner claimed to have reported the thugs to police 50 TIMES in one month.

And Burnley IT worker Linda Tiernan called on witnesses to help police catch the teen yobs.

Officers, who confirmed there have been several complaints made against the gang, have also urged people to come forward with evidence so they can look at bringing in a dispersal order to rid the streets of them.

Victim Laura Tiernan, 18, was leaving work at Jasmine House chippy in Top Barn Lane, Newchurch, Rossendale, when she was taunted by the group of girls which has been causing trouble in the area.

When she got round the corner she was set upon from behind and was struck to the back of her head.

Police said she was knocked unconscious for a short time before waking up with her face pressed into the floor.

Two Good Samaritans came to her aid before taking her home to her parents in Staghills Road.

She was then taken to Burnley General Hospital after suffering a broken nose, two black eyes and bruising to the rest of her body in the attack, at around 9.30pm on Friday .

Mrs Tiernan, an IT specialist at New Era Enterprises in St James Row, Burnley, who lives with husband Peter and children Rebecca, 13 and James, nine, said: "When Laura walked through the door I couldn't believe what I was actually seeing. There was blood and she had grit embedded into her head where she had hit the floor.

"The poor girl was more worried about the children and wanted to make sure they were in bed so they could't see what had happened to her.

"These girls had said things about her in the past and stood outside the shop trying to intimidate her and said things about her car. That night she said something back to them which they obviously didn't like.

"I think these girls are nothing but callous cowards as they chose to attack Laura when she had no chance of defending herself."

"Laura is embarrassed that this has happened as the girls were younger than her but she has nothing to feel ashamed about. She is a model daughter, she wouldn't ever resort to violence. In fact she has just won a high achiever award for the outstanding progress she has made as apprentice dress maker."

She is urging anyone who witnessed the attack to be "brave" and speak to police.

She added: "The witnesses who police have spoken to already don't want to give evidence but I would urge them to wrestle with their consciences and do the right thing.

"The same goes for the two lads who helped Laura off the ground and brought her home. I am very thankful to them but if they saw anything I would ask them to speak to the police."

Chippy boss Elaine Lee said: "This gang has been causing trouble for months now. I have told the police about it, in fact I made 50 complaints in one month about this."

A police spokesman said: "There have been reports of juvenile nuisance in this area previously so if the community think a dispersal order would be beneficial in this area then they need to speak to their community beat manager who will gather evidence to decide whether it would work."