A boy of 14 underwent four hours of surgery after a brutal attack by a 10-strong gang left his jaw broken in two places.

It was just one of four violent incidents in Chelmsford being investigated by police this week.

The victim was one of three 14-year-old boys who were attacked in Victoria Road around 11pm on Friday. He is now recovering at home after the surgery at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, but is only able to drink fluids through a straw.

The boys were walking towards the railway station, just past the YMCA, when the gang punched and kicked them.

DC Colin Eggleton said that the attack was unprovoked. "The boys were set on by about 10 youths. It was a very vicious attack," he said.

Dc Eggleton is also investigating two attacks which happened at Zeus nightclub around 11.30pm that night. A 17-year-old was head-butted and a 27-year-old man was punched and kicked. Both victims, from Chelmsford, had their wounds stitched at Broomfield.

British Transport police are investigating an incident involving up to 15 men which started on a train in the early hours of Sunday and spilled over to Chelmsford railway station.

Two Maldon men were also treated in Broomfield, one needing stitches in a head wound.

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