FOUR teenage girls have been arrested in connection with an attack on a girl in a cemetery.

Aften Dean, aged 15, was kicked unconscious and left with footprints on her head when she was beaten up as she walked home by a gang who wanted to take her hat.

Her attackers, all teenage girls, only stopped their assault when two workmen who were driving past chased them away.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Following the assault of a 15-year-old girl in Heaton Cemetery just over a week ago, four 15-year-old girls from the local area have been arrested on suspicion of assault."

Police were questioning the girls yesterday.

Aften, a pupil at Mount St Joseph School in Great Lever, was walking through Heaton cemetery with her 13-year-old nephew, Kieran, when she was attacked at 4.30pm on Monday, July 24.

One of the gang grabbed the hat off her head and when she asked for it back, she was attacked.

Aften was kicked and punched until she fell to the ground.

The gang continued to attack her, stamping on her face and ripping out her earrings.

The workmen took her home and she was taken to hospital for a brain scan, which showed her injuries had not caused lasting damage.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.