Doncaster boys charged with attempted murder and robbery

Two boys aged 10 and 11 were yesterday charged with attempted murder after two other youngsters were left with serious injuries following an alleged attack near Doncaster at the weekend.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had given police the go-ahead to charge the boys who were arrested after the assaults in Edlington, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.

One of the victims of the alleged attacks, aged 11, was left with life-threatening injuries after he was found partially conscious at the bottom of a ravine with head injuries.

He is now said to be in a stable condition in Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

His nine-year-old friend, found bleeding heavily in a nearby street, underwent an arm operation and also suffered facial injuries. He is also in hospital and was expected to undergo more surgery on his arm, police said.

"We have now authorised police to charge a boy aged 10 and a boy aged 11," a spokesman for South Yorkshire CPS told reporters.

"Each boy will be charged with an offence of attempted murder of each victim and each boy will also be charged with an offence of robbery against each victim."

The two boys, said to be brothers, appeared in court, one wearing a red England football shirt and the other a grey T-shirt, media reports said.

They were refused bail and remanded into secure local authority care. As both suspects are under the age of 18, they cannot be named and neither can the victims.

Earlier, the families of the victims issued a short statement thanking local people for their support.

"We would like to thank all the community for their help in finding our son and for all their continued support through what is a very traumatic time," the family of the 11-year-old said.

"We are hoping that our son will continue to recover from his ordeal."

On Monday, a Downing Street spokesman said Prime Minister Gordon Brown had found the incident "very shocking" and would be following the case closely.