FIVE men assaulted a woman and stole her handbag as she waited to pick up her child from school.
The woman was approached by the men as she stood on the corner of Varney Road and Greencroft in Clifton, opposite Dovecote Primary School.
They demanded her mobile phone before assaulting her.
The attack happened at 2.50pm on Thursday.
Police said the woman was left with scratches and bruises and was very shaken.
The group were described as all being mixed race and in their late teens or early 20s. Two of them were on bikes.
Detective Inspector Martin Putnar, leading the investigation, said: "This was a despicable, cowardly attack on a young lady waiting to collect her children from school.
"This is a busy area and I'm sure there were people close by who would have seen these males, though not necessarily realised what they had done.
"I would urge anyone that saw them or who may have information as to their identity to call us."
Police have increased patrols in the area, particularly around the start and end of the school day.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
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