A SOUTHAMPTON couple have told how they feared for their lives when they were attacked by a gang of youths as they walked home from a family barbecue.

It is believed the youths even filmed the violence on their mobile phones, known as happy slapping', as David Ray was punched and kicked to the ground before one of the attackers snapped a bone in his right leg by jumping up and down on him.

David, 38, and his wife-to-be Sandra Billington had been walking from the Lordshill area of the city to their home in Aldermoor on Saturday night when a group of around 12 youths confronted them.

"It was terrifying," said David.

"I was screaming for my life and shouting at them to leave Sandra alone."

The group targeted the couple as they walked along a footpath near Dunbar Road, between Sutherland Road and Lordshill Road just before midnight on Saturday.

After shouting insults at the couple the group of around ten male teenagers and three or four female teenagers ran over to them and launched the attack.

"They just ran over and then one guy hit me in the side of the face," said David.

"I was punched and kicked to the ground. I tried to curl up in a ball but they jumped on my leg which was over a kerb between a cycle and footpath."

Sandra, 32, tried to pull off the attackers but the gang started to attack her, leaving her with minor injuries and bruises. "I was just so scared," she said.

The attack comes just a few weeks after Sandra was part of the Four Walls Residents Association in Aldermoor, who were awarded by the Home Secretary for coming together and stamping out antisocial behaviour. "Now I'm just scared to go out by myself," she said.

David will today undergo X-rays to examine head injuries sustained in the attack and has been told by doctors he could be off work for more than six months with his leg injury.

"I can't believe it. We were planning our wedding and now this has happened. It's going to be a huge setback and we are hoping we don't have to postpone the wedding which is booked for February 16," he said.

David proposed to Sandra on Valentine's Day and moved in with his bride to be at their home in Aldermoor two weeks ago.

"We have booked the church and the honeymoon and we want a Valentine's Day wedding," he added.

"I just hope there is someone out there who knows something that can help catch these people," he said.

Due to the warm weather most of the male attackers were not wearing shirts and police have descriptions for three of the people they would like to speak to. The first is a white teenager, around 17 with pot marked skin on his face and wearing a light coloured shirt. Another attacker is described as around 5ft 8in, aged 17 to 20, with a shaved head and who was shirtless and wearing blue jeans with white trainers.

The third man is also described as 17 to 20 and was shirtless. He had short dark hair and was wearing blue tracksuit bottoms and Reebok trainers.

Police have arrested one young male from the local area who has been released on bail.