Attackers have sprayed acid in the faces of up to 15 schoolgirls in Afghanistan.

The teenagers were walking to their all-girls high school in the southern city of Kandahar when they were attacked by two men on a motorbike.

The men used a toy gun to spray acid in the girls' faces.

Some of the victims were wearing Islamic burqas, which gave them some protection, but several received serious acid burns.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Local officials believe it may be an attempt to stop local girls from attending school.

NATO-led forces in Afghanistan have condemned the act as cowardly.