TWO brothers were punched and kicked by a gang of up to 12 teenagers in a suspected happy-slapping' attack.

Matthew Simpson, 21, said the gang confronted him and his younger brother David as they got off a bus in Bicester after a trip to the cinema.

Mr Simpson said the group surrounded them, knocking him to the ground before punching and kicking him on the floor.

He said: "Me and my little brother came from Oxford on the bus. These guys came up to us and started asking us questions: where are you from? Where are you going?

"We started walking a little bit faster. All of a sudden we just got jumped by them all, punching and kicking. I was on the floor and they still carried on punching and kicking."

Mr Simpson, who works at Bicester Village, said he yelled to David, 15, to run away.

He said: "It lasted about 20 minutes. I think someone started screaming and shouting at them and they started walking off. That was my chance to run."

Mr Simpson, who was treated for a black eye, injured arm and bruising at Bicester Community Hospital, went straight to the police station to report the attack.

He said: "I'm still a bit shaken, nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I've got some bruises all across the head and grazes and a beautiful black eye."

Mr Simpson, who said his brother saw the yobs filming the attack on their mobile phones, has been forced to take time off work. Bicester Community College pupil David said he was kicked a couple of times, but did not need medical treatment.

The two boys live at home in the King's End area of Bicester.

Their stepfather Cliff Harper said: "Matthew's got ever such a bad eye. He was punched in the head, had his earring ripped out, was kicked in the neck and has got one hand all bandaged up.

"A number of people went past in their cars but no one seemed to want to stop and help. It was quite a bad assault. If this is going on I think people should be aware of it. It was absolutely unprovoked."

Mr Harper, 34, added his stepsons said the gang appeared to come from the Piggy Lane area before crossing the road and attacking them about 10.30pm on Friday.

He said: "The police took my eldest lad out in the car round the estates to see if they could find them.

"They have been back in touch and said they would review any CCTV footage.

"I'm very angry, I just wish I had been there."

Police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said officers were investigating the incident.

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.