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Police are investigating after two boys allegedly attacked a group of other boys in a Cardiff park and made them lick dog faeces off shoes.

The youths allegedly targeted a group of 11-year-old boys in Whitchurch Library Park on Saturday afternoon.

The pair are said to have ordered their victims to take off their coats and shoes as they rifled through their bags and then made them carry out a series of forfeits, including licking the shoes and using racist language.

One parent said the youngsters were so scared they "froze" and didn't know what to do.

It only stopped when other parents who were using the park with younger children intervened and took pictures of the culprits.

Police have said that they have stepped up patrols in the area.

A mum who confronted the pair said: "I could see the group of boys looking upset so I went over to check on them.

"The older pair ran off and the younger one told me what had happened. They said the pair had threatened to take their bikes if they didn't do what they ordered them to do. When I went to confront them and ask for the money back that they had taken one of them stuck his finger up at me.

"They were just horrible, nasty bullies."

A mum whose son was targeted said that her child woke up scared in the middle of the night after the incident in the park.

She said: "He rang me from the park to say he was scared and I got in the car and went up straightaway.

"It is awful because he says he is scared to go out and doesn't feel safe anymore. He said they were almost too scared to think and just froze. There was about 11 of them and they all stayed together but it was a terrifying experience."

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Local police inspector Darren Grady said: “Anyone who lives in Whitchurch will no doubt be shocked by events on Saturday afternoon in what is a safe and family-friendly park.

“This is an isolated incident and an investigation is being carried out.

“In addition to the investigation, there will be increased high-visibility policing to reassurance the community and if anyone does have concerns we would ask them to approach patrolling officers.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.