A VICIOUS gang of youths is being hunted by police after five teenage boys were attacked near the grounds of Winchester Cathedral.

The assaults were all carried out by thugs prowling the city's streets under the cover of darkness.

Winchester police are now urging any potential witnesses to come forward after the unprovoked attacks.

The first of the incidents, which happened on Friday and Saturday, took place in the Cathedral's Inner Close when two males punched a 15-year boy in the stomach and nose between 8.50pm and 9.10pm.

The victim described his attackers as white, aged 15-25 and wearing dark clothing.

The second attack occurred in the Inner Close about the same time.

A teenager had his rucksack taken from him by a youth, who was part of a larger gang.

The bag was dumped after his Quiksilver wallet was snatched from inside it. Three keys were attached to the wallet but nothing of value was inside it.

Minutes later in Cathedral Close near the Deanery, a 16-year-old boy was walking with a group of friends when the gang approached him between 9.30 and 9.45pm.

Without any provocation, one of them hit him in the face.

The 16-year-old described his male attacker as white, 17-20, wearing a baseball cap and a light-coloured jumper.

Police believe the gang went out looking for trouble again on Saturday night.

An 18-year-old was walking through a passageway leading to the cathedral grounds when a girl shouted out to him between 7.25pm and 7.30pm.

When he carried on walking and ignored her, the girl ran over to him and punched him in the face.

She is described as white, 16-17, with long brown hair.

Immediately after this assault, another 18-year-old was walking with his friends when he was chased through the cathedral grounds by a gang of more than ten teenagers.

The victim was head-butted after he fled down the pathway leading to Colebrook Street.

He described his attacker as white, aged about 16 and wearing a blue tracksuit top and a baseball cap.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "This is not common in Winchester and we want to know who is carrying out these unprovoked assaults."

Anyone with any information on the attacks should call Winchester police on 0845 045 4545.

New city hall plan under scrutiny

PROPOSALS for a new city hall in Winchester are to be scrutinised by opposition councillors.

The city council has suggested selling off its existing offices and using the money to fund the building of new offices in the city centre.

It would be the biggest civic offices redevelopment in Hampshire in decades. One suggested site is the Middle Brook Street car park.

City councillors on the scrutiny committee, including opposition Tory and Labour councillors, are raising questions about the multi-million-pound scheme.

They include the cost, affordability, and what other options have been considered, including moving the headquarters out of Winchester to another part of the district.

The answers will be prepared by officers by April at the latest. Until then the scheme is held up until the scrutineers are satisifed about the proposals.