Amanda Johnson's son Ryan ended up with his foot in plaster after being persuaded to play football with a group of teenage boys, on the recreation ground next to Revoe Park, in Blackpool.

The 11-year-old Mereside Primary School pupil, a motocross champion, ended up in hospital and had to have his foot put in plaster after the incident, which happened on Monday evening.

But his mum, of Birkside Way, Mereside, said she had heard it wasn't the only time a youngster had been tricked in the same way this week.

She said: "Ryan was playing out with his cousin. These lads rolled a ball towards him and asked him to kick it back to them, which he did.
He wasn't wearing shoes at the time because he originally had his roller-skates on.

"But it wasn't a football, it was a bowling ball and he broke his foot."

Mrs Johnson said at first she thought it was just an accident, until a nurse at A&E commented another boy had come in with a similar injury.

She said: "There had been someone else booked in at the hospital after the same thing happened to him. I contacted the police about it and they said they would look into it.

"I just think it's horrible. It was obviously done maliciously. Ryan said it really looked like a football and we think they might have even painted a Nike-style tick on it to make it look like a football.

"Ryan is really upset by it. He had exams this week and was in a lot of pain. The school have been good and let him re-sit some exams.

"He is a British motocross champion and his chances were looking good, but now he can't race for six to eight weeks and it has ruined this season.

"He just can't understand why they did this to him.

"I want to warn other parents and youngsters about this gang out there doing this to try to make sure it doesn't happen to anybody else."

Sgt Martin Ireton, from Blackpool Police, confirmed the incident was being looked into and said another similar report had been received.

He said: "We have had two reports of incidents involving young lads at Revoe Park. We are investigating them and will be attempting to track down those responsible."