POLICE are hunting a gang of 20 youths who attacked an Asian schoolboy with wooden batons outside a Glasgow school.

The 16-year-old was assaulted after leaving Bellahouston Academy in the South Side of the city, in an apparently racially motivated attack.

The gang pounced as the teenager was walking along Gower Terrace at around 3.15pm on Monday with friends.

During the attack the fifth year pupil was punched and kicked and struck on the head with wooden batons by the youths, who had been drinking.

He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and treated for bruising but has now been released.

It is understood a number of other Asian pupils, including girls, were also attacked by the gang of white youths, which is believed to include former pupils.

Police have not ruled out a racial motive behind the attack and said inquiries were continuing.

Glasgow City Council said the head teacher of Bellahouston Academy alerted the police after watching the gang approach the school.

The attack took place outside the school grounds after school had broke up for the day.

However one parent, who lives next to the school, said staff had a responsibility for the safety of pupils.

He said: "The head teacher issued a statement saying the attack took place out of school.

"But this won't cut ice with the parents of the child who has been hospitalised due to the attack or the girls who were punched by the thugs for trying to escape.

"Every child deserves to be protected and we need the reassurance of the education establishment that our children are safe on the way to and from school and not just in the school grounds."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "The head teacher at Bellahouston Academy contacted the police twice on Monday afternoon to alert them to the presence of strangers in the vicinity of the school.

"He remained outside the school gates while the pupils left, and neither he nor any of his staff witnessed the alleged incident which occurred some 10 minutes later well out of sight of the school gates."

A police spokeswoman said: "A 16-year-old youth was injured after being attacked by 20 youths on Gower Terrace as he was leaving Bellahouston Academy.

"The youth was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and treated for bruising to the head. Inquiries are continuing."