Police want to trace two men after four boys aged just 13 were sexually assaulted on their way to school.

The schoolboys were targeted on a footpath on Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, at about 8am on July 8 last year.

Two men approached the teenagers before “sexually assaulting” them, police said. All four were able to escape.

Officers were called to their school around lunchtime that day after the boys reported the incident to staff, Scotland Yard said.

The force said the assault was linked to another incident not far away on two schoolgirls at around the same time.

Today officers said they were keen to trace two men in connection with the separate assaults.

The first man is described as a white man, aged in his 20s, clean shaven and of medium build. He has short light brown hair and was wearing a black hooded jacket, black tracksuit trousers with light blue stripes and dark trainers.

The second man is described as a white man, aged in his 20s and of medium build. He has short blond hair and was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Edward Lewis on 101 or 07500 850625 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.