THE family of a teenager who was battered over the head with an iron bar have slammed police for taking a week to visit him after the attack.

The 15-year-old needed ten stitches to a 'horrific' headwound after being assaulted outside a fish and chip shop in Woodford Bridge on Saturday, October 31.

The youngster, who was visiting friends in the area at the time, was attacked by one of two young white men who pulled up in a black Ford Focus outside Oceans Delight in Chigwell Road armed with a metal pole and a paintball gun.

His mum Jeannette Rose, manager of Children's Dream charity shop in Woodford Green Broadway, said the teenager - who only returned to classes at West Hatch school today (Thursday) after recovering from his injuries - was given no support by the police after the incident.

She said: "He was in a terrible state but they didn't take him to hospital. (My partner) James had to take him to hospital instead.

"The police kept calling, promising that they would come round to see him, but we had to wait a week before they finally sent someone."

The mother-of-four's partner, James Rose, said the family have been left in shock by the unprovoked attack - which took place at about 5.30pm.

He said: "I've seen some cuts in my time, but the wound on (the boy's) head was horrific.

"He obviously yelled out in pain when this guy hit him, but he just said if you keep screaming I'll do it again.

"The police didn't help by taking so long to come and take a statement from him.

"There was apparently some kind of disagreement between Essex police and Redbridge police over who was going to deal with it.

"We haven't heard anything from them since they came to see him. It's ridiculous.

"He has suffered from bad headaches and was really shaken by what happened."

The two men involved in the attack are thought to be in their 20s.

An spokesman for Essex Police said the assault was being investigated by Redbridge Police.

He said: "There is and never has been any disagreement regarding which force is investigating the incident. The victim had been given the contact details of the investigating officers from the outset."