A seven-year-old schoolboy who was brutally attacked by bullies was given the surprise of a lifetime when 40 bikers turned up to support him.

Darren Stevenson was on the way to buy milk for his mum when he was set upon by a gang of young thugs.

They poured lighter fluid on his go-kart and threw stones at him before splitting his head open with an electrical plug.

Darren, from Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, and his best friend Connor Torrance, also eight, have been subject to a relentless bullying campaign for months.

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Connor's mum, Kristina, 27, said the boys are used to doing everything together, from football to playing Xbox and Pokemon.

But now they are afraid to leave their homes for long periods.

She said: "When they go out on their bikes they'll go around really quickly."

According to Kristina there were at least half-a-dozen bullies that stopped Darren on his way to the shop, and some were teenagers.

After the attack on Darren, Kristina's brother, Andrew Torrance, organised a support run from the group Bikes against Bullies.

Dozens of them descended on the sleepy estate to rally round the youngsters and send a clear message about bullying.

The boys were left star-struck as the bikers gathered round them to tell them how much they supported them.

Kristina said: "The boys were shocked, they loved it. They were expecting a few and it was 40 in the end. They got a mug and a membership.

Glasgow Times:

"A lot of them told us their stories about how they got bullied and they didn't have any support when they were youngsters.

"After the bikers left Darren actually asked if he could go out to play for the first time."

Kristina said that the last few months have been "hell" for her son, and that he is being bullied for everything from his height to his jacket.

She said: "It's just stupid wee things; he's getting out of school crying his eyes out. The school hasn't helped us at all."

She added that she had tried to reach out to some of the bullies' parents in the neighbourhood to get them to explain their children's behaviour, but with no luck.

Darren's mother Laura Armstrong said she couldn't thank the bikers enough and they sent a clear message that bullying was unacceptable.

She added: "Darren is a happy, bubbly boy once again and is hoping Santa is extra kind to him this year.

"Thanks to everyone for their support."

Christina McKelvie, MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, said: "Bullying is one of the lowest forms of cowardice. I was shocked to hear about Darren and Connor and would urge them to contact me.

"I hope the bikers put a smile back on their faces and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that bullies never win."

Bikes against Bullies was a programme that started in the USA to support anti-bullying campaigns.

The UK chapter was founded in June 2016 by Chris Cooper, after his two youngest children were bullied for a year - culminating in his nine-year-old son getting his arm broken.