An ambulance crew member was hurt when her vehicle was attacked by a drunken mob.

The woman fell and twisted her back as the ambulance was kicked and rocked violently by the gang.

Seconds earlier she had been forced to take refuge inside the vehicle where her colleague was treating a patient.

The attack happened in Butts Road, Southwick, on Monday night, after the ambulance was called to assist a 16-year-old boy with wounds, initially thought to be from a knife or bottle attack.

The crew arrived within 14 minutes of the call to find a youth bleeding from cuts to his hand and arm.

Inspector Chris Drew of Shoreham police said: "It appeared the group of about eight youths had been drinking.

"One had tripped over the kerb and had cut himself on a bottle he was holding.

"He was put into the back of the ambulance where he was being treated when the remaining youths attacked the vehicle.

"It was kicked and rocked from side to side and I understand a female member of the ambulance crew twisted her back."

Sussex Ambulance Service said the injured youth was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. The ambulance was immediately taken off the road for repairs and an investigation was launched.

The female crew member, who has not been named, is recovering from her injuries, which are not thought to be serious.

Trevor Anderson, director of operations for Sussex Ambulance Service, said: "Unfortunately it is becoming more frequent for ambulance crews to be attacked during the course of their work.

"We have changed their uniforms so they no longer resemble those of the police and we train our staff in how to defuse situations and avoid conflict.

"But where drink is involved, as seems to be the case here, all reason goes out the window and our staff end up bearing the brunt of it."