A GIRL filmed being beaten by a gang of teenagers has been praised by her Thai boxing coach for not retaliating.

Lauren Edmunds, a 16-year-old from Darlington, suffered a broken nose when she was attacked by the laughing teenagers.

The Northern Echo reported this morning how Lauren was lured into the attack - which was filmed on mobile phones - last Thursday by friends on the pretence they were celebrating GCSE results.

The schoolgirl today revealed how she had to restrain herself from using her Thai boxing skills.

Lauren has been a Thai boxing student for two years. She has been praised for not reacting to the attack because Thai boxing is illegal when used outside a safe environment.

Lauren said: "I had a call from my Thai boxing instructor telling me how well I had done not to retaliate.

"I could probably have done some damage if I had used my skills but I knew straight away there was no way I could do it. I would have got into more trouble than my attackers."

She had spent the day celebrating her results, which included one A* and three As among her 11 exams, with family.

In the evening she was invited by friends for a party. After meeting the group at a bus stop in the village of Middleton St George, near Darlington, she was set upon by one of the girls.

Lauren, who was a pupil at Hurworth School, is now going to college to take A-levels in sport, psychology and maths.

She suffered a black eye, broken nose and bruising.

Lauren added: "I feel really let down. I thought they were decent people but obviously they aren't. I'll probably have to see them again when I go to college and I've no idea how I'll react."

Councillor Doris Jones, who represents Middleton St George and also sits on the council's public protection scrutiny committee, said teenagers often congregated out of sight at the bus stop.

She is due to meet with local housing developers today (Aug 28) to have it replaced.

Coun Jones was also upset the number of beat officers covering Middleton St George had been cut to just one for the entire rural area in Darlington earlier this year.

She said: "One police officer to cover all the rural areas is ludicrous. What happens as a result is yob culture has taken over the streets."

* A 16-year-old girl has been bailed pending further inquiries.