A GOOD Samaritan who tried to stop four youths throwing stones at a nesting swan was subjected to a terrifying attack when the youths turned on her.

The woman, who is in her 60s, was walking both her dog and a friend's dog around Top Back Pond, on the Engine Field Nature Reserve off Kirk Lane in Yeadon when she saw the youths throwing stones, approached them and asked them to stop.

One youth then became abusive, started swearing at the woman and threatened to throw her against a wall if she did not mind her own business. The woman continued to remonstrate with the youths and two of the four got hold of her and threw her against a nearby wall.

All four then ran off. The woman suffered minor injuries to her nose and was badly shaken.

Detective Superintendent Paul Todd of Weetwood Police said: "This is a particularly nasty crime, which was terrifying for the woman who had gone out to walk the dog and had only asked them to stop throwing stones.

Anyone who recognises any of the people involved in this assault on the old lady is urged to contact Weetwood CID as soon as possible."

The abusive youth is described as about 18, 6ft tall, thin build with a baby face. He had an almost shaven head, possibly with blonde/gingerish hair. He was wearing beige clothing and a dark blue or black anorak and had a local accent.

The second youth is 17-18 years old, smaller than the first suspect with a 'bull-shaped' head, with short-cropped ginger/blonde hair.

He was believed to have had a hair lip and very light blue eyes.

He was of thin build and was wearing a beige coloured fleece.

There is no description of the other two people there, who did not take part in the attack, which happened last week.