A 73-year-old woman was viciously attacked by thugs at a bowls club presentation evening.

The pensioner was enjoying the annual event at the Manor House Sports Club in Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley with her son on Friday evening, when trouble flared.

Her son was also attacked and the pair are so fearful of reprisals they do not want to be named.

At about 11pm, ten rowdy youths gate-crashed the function where members of the Kings Langley Bowl’s club were enjoying the dinner-dance.

Witnesses say the group, aged about 16 and upwards, began making crude gestures on the dance floor.

After being asked to leave, the louts continued to hang around outside the venue intimidating members – many of whom were in their 70s.

The 42-year old male victim from St Albans said: “Everyone was having a really nice time until they showed up and disturbed the evening.

“I was the youngest person at the dinner so when the teenagers refused to leave and began scaring the elderly I decided to guard the door with my brother-in-law.

“I told them to behave themselves as many of the people inside were old enough to be their grandparents.

“My brother-in-law went to the toilet and as soon as he had gone they knocked me to the ground, ripped my shirt and started to lay into me.”

His horrified mother, who lost a son in February this year, saw what was happening and rushed to help him. As she tried to drag the attackers off she was punched in the chest.

The vicious assault has left her terrified and shaken. Her son was left with a broken nose, two black eyes and a bruised body.

A spokeman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said officers were on the scene within minutes by which time the youths had fled the scene.

He said: “We are willing to take action as we were there on the night the alleged incident took place. In order for us to proceed with this we will need statements given to the neighbourhood officers from all of the parties who were believed to be involved.”