TWO young sisters today told how they were forced to get down on their knees and beg during a vicious assault outside a York supermarket.

Emily and Adele Westerby were kicked, punched, robbed and taunted in a nightmare 20-minute attack by a gang of teenage girls.

The sisters, aged 13 and 12, were assaulted as they waited for a taxi outside the Tesco Extra store at Clifton Moor, following a trip to the cinema last Friday night.

Their furious mum, Teresa, has put up a £100 reward for any information which helps police to identify her children's four attackers.

Emily and Adele's horrifying ordeal began at about 11.45pm after they had walked from the Warner Brothers cinema to Tesco to order a taxi.

The sisters, who live at Nun Monkton, said they were abused by the gang who swore at them before demanding their bags.

Adele said: "They were arguing with us, then one of them said: 'I'm not being cheeky but I want your bag'.

"She grabbed it from Emily and they went through it, taking things out and throwing them on the floor."

Emily said: "They took my mobile and also took £5 from my purse. They shouted at us to go away. As we did, they stopped us and began to have another go."

Adele said: "They grabbed Emily's hair and pushed her to the floor. They then punched and kicked her in the stomach.

"They made us get on our hands and knees and apologise for something. They were saying 'kiss our boots'. It went on for about 20 minutes."

Eventually the attack was halted by an onlooker.

Adele said: "There was a man in a car, he must have been about 18. He got out of his car and told them to stop. He told us to clear off.

"We were really scared. They were shouting and the security guard (at Tesco) just stayed at the door and watched it going on. We didn't know what we had done wrong."

Teresa said: "I am offering £100. If I don't, these people are just going to get away with this. Emily and Adele won't be going back to Clifton Moor soon. They are afraid to stand anywhere by themselves.

"I was beside myself. There was no sense to it. We went out there and they were hiding behind the cinema."

At Tesco, Charles Gilesbaugh, head of security, said: "Tesco doesn't own the car park. The security is provided by an outside firm.

"An image has been captured by our CCTV system and the police are collecting that tape."

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an incident took place on Friday night."

Anyone with any information about the assault should contact York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:41 Monday, March 10, 2003