A video shared on social media shows the shocking moment two schoolgirls were ambushed by a large group of students.

In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, the gang of “20 to 30” kids and teenagers can be seen kicking and punching the girls as they lie on the ground screaming.

A woman who witnessed the attack, by students from the Bishop Young Church of England Academy in Leeds, begged them to stop their assaut, shouting “leave her alone”.

The gang of youths then turned on the bystander who said she ended up with some of the kids “on her” after she tried to intervene in the incident which took place near Arthur’s Rein Park in Leeds.

The witness said the ambush involved over 20 students attacking the girls, who were reportedly thrown into a lake during the assault, Leeds Live reports.

Any eyewitness said the gang of 20 to 30 students ambushed the two girls, turning on her when she begged them to stop

The witness described what she saw saying: “They were attacking her and another. I shouted ‘leave her alone’ and ‘what on earth are you doing?’

“I just saw around 20 to 30 kids coming towards me but I wasn’t bothered about me, just the young girls. I ended up with some of the kids on me.” She added that it “didn’t last long.”

It has been reported that the girls were “thrown in the lake” during the assault and Bishop Young Academy has now issued a statement to parents about “poor behaviour happening on the way to or from school.”

Bishop Young Church of England Academy said they were working with parents, the police and the local community

The letter signed off by the headteacher Rachael Cole states: “Unfortunately, over the past few days, there have been some of incidents of poor behaviour happening on the way to and from school, and in the evening within our community.

“Although these incidents involve a very small minority of our students, they have had a negative impact on the local community and the reputation of our Academy.

“We are working very closely with parents, the police and the local community to address these issues and ensure that our students are responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to our society.

“Please rest assured, that any time we receive information about the conduct of our students it is acted upon in the strictest possible terms, even when such behaviour occurs away from the academy.

“Should our students break the law, we actively encourage you to not only report it to us, but to also report it to the police and we will continue to work with the police to safeguard our students and our local community.”

West Yorkshire Police have said they are making enquiries following the assault.

They said: “Police are making further enquiries following a report of an assault, which is said to have occurred in Dib Lane, Roundhay on 11 February.

“Anyone with information that will assist is asked to contact the East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, or by using the options on the West Yorkshire Police website.