A mother has spoken of her anger and sorrow after it emerged that a girl gang involved in a vicious attack on her 12-year-old daughter will not be prosecuted.

The attack, which was videoed and posted on Instagram, caused outrage at the time with parents in Twickenham complaining it was one of a series of incidents.

Parents complained about what they saw as police inaction and talked about setting up community patrols to provide safety.

Three girls were arrested in connection with the attack, which left the 12-year-old victim traumatised and suffering serious bruising. She went to hospital on the night.

The attack occurred at the Holly Road playground in Twickenham, which is just a few hundred yards from the police station in April. It has taken months for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to decide against prosecuting the girls seen on video participating in the assault.

The family came to the UK from Italy around a year ago and chose the Twickenham and Richmond area in the belief that it was a safe place to live.

The mother, who prefers to stay anonymous, said she 'surprised' and 'really angry' at the decision not to prosecute the girls.

"My daughter is strong, but sometimes she is really scared to be here in Twickenham," she said.

"The attack was very very strong. My daughter did not know about these girls, but just knew about them through Instagram.

"They came to the small park in Twickenham and told my daughter to lick their shoes. My daughter said 'No', so one of the girls said then 'We will fight you'.

"They started to punch my daughter. When she fell down, she then got up and tried to push out at one girl; then the other two came with really strong punches. It was really terrible.

"They posted the video on Instagram and they were really proud of what they did.

"One of the girls used a weapon, it was metal. She took it out of her bag and punched my daughter's head.

"When the police saw the video and the attack on my daughter's head, they said they would pursue it because this was not a simple fight, it is really really bad.

"My daughter had a big bruise on her back and her head. She could not sit down or walk. If she had been hit in a different place, maybe my daughter would have had a broken skull. We are lucky it was not worse.

"We took her to the hospital on the night, but then, because she could not sleep, we contacted her GP."

The mother said the attack had a long-term effect on the family, adding: "I slept with my daughter for two weeks because she was very scared with trauma.

"I don't know why they are not being prosecuted...We chose Richmond because it is a good place and safe, but now it is changing.

"We feel let down, very disappointed and sad. My daughter sometimes feels scared, she is really strong and I am very proud of her. Sometimes, it is very hard.

"They post these attacks on Instagram and there are many comments like 'wow', and 'Next time call me'. They make videos of these things. They boast about it. It is crazy."

She added: "We don't want any problems for our family. I would be happy if we could stop this from happening again, which would be good for everybody."

The attack on the 12-year-old was among a number of assaults in the area which were reported to the police through March and April.

In one incident, a girl of 13 was threatened with assault and chased to her home. She was subsequently threatened on two occasions by girls, armed with a broom handle and bat, who camped on her doorstep.

In Redlees Park, Isleworth, a 13-year-old girl was attacked by gang of 15-20 teenagers.

On another occasion in the Holly Road playground, a mother of a two-year-old dragged away two female attackers, who were being filmed on smartphones as they carried out a frenzied attack on a teenage girl.

A gang of teen girls and boys was involved in antisocial behaviour at the play area on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. Fearful parents reported the incident to 999 and Twickenham Police Station.

A police spokesman released the following statement about the attack on the 12-year-old: "On Monday 12th April 2021, at 15:00 hours, a 12 year old girl was physically assaulted by a group of teenagers at Holly Road Garden of Rest in Twickenham.

"This incident was reported to police at 16.50 hours on the 12th April and an investigation began.

"The assault resulted in injuries amounting to Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). The victim did not require medical treatment at the time of reporting.

"Three teenage girls were arrested, interviewed and bailed for the offence of Actual Bodily Harm. The investigation has since been closed with no further action being taken against the three teenagers. The victim has been informed."