A TEENAGE boy is to undergo reconstructive surgery to his face after he and a friend were set upon by a thug in a Hampshire park.

The victim had his cheekbone broken in three places and will need to have part of his face rebuilt by surgeons.

His friend, a boy of the same age, has been warned that he could lose several teeth as a result of the assault.

The boys were walking through Woodside Park, Lymington, at 9.30pm on Monday when they were confronted by two older boys who demanded money and cigarettes.

When they said that they did not have any, one of the youths punched one of the boys in the face and headbutted the other.

A police spokesman said: "Both boys required medical treatment for injuries resulting from the attack.

"One spent a night in Southampton General Hospital with three cheekbone fractures that will require him to have reconstructive surgery. The other could suffer the permanent loss of teeth.

"The park was very busy that evening and a number of individuals and groups were in the area at the time.

"Detectives are asking any of those people to contact them, as they may well hold vital information that will assist them in their enquiries.

"They would particularly like to speak to a group of girls who briefly spoke to one of the injured boys soon after the assault, plus a youth who was riding a BMX bike."

The boys' attacker was white, aged 16-17, 6ft, with short blond hair. He wore a black T-shirt with a picture of a skateboarder on the front.