A RIDGEWAY schoolboy has told how terrified children and parents witnessed the savage attack on Henry Webster.

The youngster gave evidence via video link at Bristol Crown Court after the footage of his first statement a year ago was played to the jury.

The court heard how screams filled the Wroughton school's tennis courts as 15-year-old Henry was repeatedly struck with a hammer.

The witness - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - said: "The younger children were in shock and were crying, "I heard a woman - who was by a car - screaming."

Henry was attacked with a claw hammer on the tennis courts of Ridgeway School, Wroughton, on January 11 last year.

During the assault he was also punched and kicked as he lay on the ground bleeding.

A large number of pupils and parents are believed to have witnessed the incident, which took place as students made their way home at about 4pm.

The jury in the trial of Wasif Khan, 18, Amjad Qazi, and two boys aged 15 and 16, heard that the Year 10 pupil had just left a PE lesson a few minutes early and was waiting for a friend in the tennis courts when he saw a gang acting suspiciously.

He said: "There were three Asians patrolling outside school. I say patrolling, they were walking up and down Inverary Road with their hoods up looking into the tennis courts."

The teenager then said that one of the unnamed defendants approached the gang and pointed out Henry by shouting It's the ginger one'.

He said: "It was crystal clear."

He added: "The Asians walked up to Henry and punched him to the ground.

"The little guy held him back and then one got a hammer out. They must have hit him seven or eight times on the head or shoulders.

"He (Henry) fell to the floor again, tried to get up but fell over, then they ran out up Inverary Road."

The witness said he didn't return to school the next day because he was worried for his safety.

He said: "I was in shock"

The trial continues.