A TEENAGE girl has been arrested in connection with a brutal assault which left another girl unconscious, covered in blood and with head injuries.

According to an eye-witness, a 13-year-old girl was “dragged by her hair and punched in the face” during a vicious attack which was seen by more than 40 young people in Green Park, Millbrook, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.

The girl was rushed to Southampton General Hospital after three ambulances and 15 police cars were called to the scene, in an area of Wimpson Park.

The teenager has since been discharged.

Police have arrested a 13-year-old girl on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman said: “On arrival our colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service were treating a 13-year-old girl who had suffered a head injury.

“We know there were a large number of people in the area at the time of the incident and we would urge any of those who saw anything and have not yet spoken to us to get in touch.”

In total 15 police vehicles were deployed due to the large number of young people reported to be at the scene.

Police sealed off a large section of the park and an officer stood guard whilst investigations continued into the attack that happened at around 5.30pm yesterday.

An eye-witness told the Daily Echo how the two girls appeared to be just “messing around at first” saying they could “take each other”.

He added: “I didn’t think there was going to be a fight but then one of them walked up to the other and swung for her.

“One girl got the other to the ground and started hitting her.

"She was crying.

“The fight was over but the other girl kept going for it and didn’t stop.

“The girl came up from behind and dragged her by her hair and punched her in the face.

“The girl, who had to go to hospital, kept trying to sit up but then she passed out.

“The lads didn’t want to get involved.

“Some of us tried to break it up but we did not want to get too involved and start a mass fight.

“Fights have happened here before but not so serious that this many police cars had to come.”

A resident living opposite the park said he did not see anything but said there had been “trouble” involving incidents in the park during the last few evenings.

Another added: “I was sat in my chair when I heard something going on. "I looked out the window and there must have been more than 20 kids with their phones lit up and then the next minute the police arrived.”

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesman said they sent two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle to the scene and immediately informed Hampshire Police.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: “We were called 5.42pm to reports of a girl who had serious head injuries following an assault in the Green Park area.

"She was taken to hospital. We deployed 15 police vehicles because of the amount of young people who were reported to be on the scene.”

The arrested girl has been bailed until March 2.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 quoting 4416045042 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.