A reporter and photographer investigating an indecent assault were attacked by thugs while doing their job on a city estate.

The pair, from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, were sworn at and spat on while speaking to residents in Stanground for a story about an indecent assault on a 15-year-old boy.

Then photographer Andy McCharen’s car was struck by a hail of stones, cans and bottles, and youths attempted to rip the door open as he tried to take photographs. They also tried to pull reporter Richard Marsden from his car and pelted the vehicle.

They left the scene after two hours, during which time the police had been called and two arrests made.

In a front page editorial on the trouble-makers and the violence, the Evening Telegraph said: “Reasoning with them was impossible – they only had violence in mind.

Abusive youths

“It is yet another example of yob rule. Today, we urge all residents to stand up and be counted.

“The yob culture in the city is growing like a cancer. Our message is clear: report the yobs in your area to the police.

“Together we can do it. Together, we can rid our city of this evil menace. But only together can we make the streets of Peterborough safe again.”

Editor Kevin Booth said: “They weren’t injured but it was harrowing for them. They were very professional and got straight back to work.

“They were in the area knocking on doors about an indecent assault unrelated to the people who attacked them. We believe it is a direct response to our Shop the Yobs campaign.”

The paper is asking residents to report troublemakers and sign an online petition backing moves to outlaw “yob rule”.

The scenes unfolded as Richard was speaking to a group of teenagers outside some shops, when he was spat on. He crossed the road to talk to some bystanders and was talking to a black resident when she was subjected to racial abuse.

Other yobs made gestures to the reporter, and the police arrived. There were two arrests and the police left but trouble flared again when officers had left.

It was then the journalists’ vehicles came under attack and after the police were called again, they returned to the newspaper office.