through a park, Police said yesterday.

On Wednesday afternoon, between 3.45 p.m. and 4 p.m., the Paget girl said she was walking through Victoria Park with a male friend.

Police spokesman Evelyn James Barnett said as the girl approached the grandstand she noticed a group of young people -- four boys and one girl.

"One of the boys got up and apparently attacked the girl's male companion.

The girl then started to walk away, but was confronted by the same boy. As she turned towards him, he punched and kicked her.

"She then kicked the boy and walked towards the park exit. A second boy however managed to get in front of her and closed the gate while the first boy hit her,'' said Mrs. James Barnett.

At that stage the one girl in the group of youths then joined in the attack, before all of the youths ran off.

The first boy is about 5 feet tall, with a stocky build, shaven head and wearing a basketball shirt. The second boy is about 5 feet 2 inches tall, slimly built and sporting dreadlocks.

The girl is between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, heavily built and wearing a maroon short-sleeved tee-shirt. All of them are aged between 14 and 15.

Police investigations into the incident are continuing and witnesses are asked to call Hamilton Police station on 295-0011 or the Crime Stoppers line on 1-800-623-8477.