A GANG of teenage girls beat up a motorist and left him bruised, bleeding and needing hospital treatment after pelting his car with snowballs.

The shocking attack happened in Victoria Way, near Huntington Road, York at its junction with Albert Close.

The victim was driving through the area and got out of his car to remonstrate with a gang of youths who were hurling snowballs at his vehicle.

He said he was "violently attacked" when three girls from the group began punching him repeatedly about the face.

A passer by who saw the violence called police, who were given initial reports of a gang of about 20 people fighting at about 8pm on Friday. The youths had fled by the time police arrived, but officers caught up with several people nearby and made some arrests.

The victim, a man in his early 30s from York, was taken to York Hospital where he was treated for cuts to his forehead and around his eyes, and swelling to his face.

He was thought to have now been discharged.

Three York girls aged 14, 15 and 16 have been arrested on suspicion of assault and questioned by police. They have now been released on bail.

The shocking incident happened the day after a gang of yobs grounded gritting services when they hurled a snowball at a lorry and smashed its window on the Bell Farm estate, just streets away.

A local councillor warned other drivers not to get out of their cars if faced with similar situations involving teenage gangs.

Huntington councillor Keith Hyman said: "I would always counsel people about actually getting out of the car and confronting them - you've just got to be careful.

"I'm aware of groups that are hanging around, but I've not heard about any violence before. It's a worrying development if that's the case, whether its girls or boys."

Coun Carol Runciman, fellow ward member for Huntington, said she was "astonished" by news of the violence.

"I don't want all girls to be shy and retiring violets... but this is clearly not acceptable. No young person should be behaving in an aggressive manner.

"When they get in a group they are almost daring each other to do things. It's that aggression I don't like.

"It's getting more common in girls, but both young men and young women need to learn how to behave appropriately when they are in groups."

Police have asked for any witnesses to Friday's incident to phone 0845 6060247, asking to speak to PC Kevin Brown.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We believe the incident was witnessed by a number of people."

Updated: 14:27 Tuesday, January 03, 2006