Two students were beaten with golf clubs during a racist attack by a gang of ten youths in Brighton.

Andy Wang was left with a head wound that needed nine stitches and a suspected broken nose.

His girlfriend Yan Yan Zhao has bruised legs where she was hit with the clubs and a pole.

The gang of 15 to 16-year-olds hurled racist insults, spat and flicked cigarette butts at the Chinese couple, both 22.

PC Kate Witt of Brighton police said: "People were standing round watching what was going on. Some were laughing. It makes me mad."

The victims, who are studying English at Brighton University, were walking to their host home in Moulsecoomb across playing fields at Falmer School when the gang turned on them.

PC Witt said: "They started with racists remarks. Andy was then hit on the back of his head with a golf club. They punched and spat at him as he lay on the ground.

"Yan Yan was hit across the legs and Andy used his body to shield her from further blows."

The gang ran off towards Falmer railway station and the couple went to their host family's home in Moulsecoomb.

Andy was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

The man whose home they are living in said: "I am quite disgusted people would attack someone because they come from a different country. They could have killed them using weapons like they did."

Andy said: "It was very painful and scary. I'm angry and I want the police to catch these people."

One youth was 15, 5ft 9in tall and had short straight brown hair. He wore a polo shirt.

A second youth was shorter, fat and had short dark hair. He wore a blue and red striped short-sleeve top and dark jeans.

The attacks happened at 7pm on Thursday. Anyone with information should contact PC Witt at Brighton police station on 0845 6070999.