MORE than 1,600 people have signed a petition opposing the early release of two teenagers who left a Harrogate boy for dead at a local beauty spot.

Attack victim Ashley Murray, now 16, was 13 at the time of the attack, in August 1999.

He was stabbed 18 times and his life was only saved by accident, when a dog walker discovered him in Birk Crag, near Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire - 40 hours after the incident.

Ashley's mother, Joanne, was horrified to hear that convicted attackers Daniel Gill and Robert Fuller could soon be granted parole, having served just two years of their six-year sentence.

Mrs Murray started the petition just weeks ago and has been overwhelmed by the response.

"So far we do not know of anyone who has refused to sign the petition. People are telling us this is wrong, diabolical and should not happen," she said.

The protest will be sent to Home Secretary David Blunkett in a bid to secure a rethink.

The parole board is shortly to consider the case of Gill, 14 at the time of the attack and Fuller, who was 15. They were convicted of attempted murder.

During the 13-day trial at Hull, in 1999, the court heard that Ashley had been lured to the beauty spot after all three boys had watched part of the horror movie, Scream.

Judge Arthur Myerson QC told the trial he regarded the boys as a risk to the public and sentenced them to six years' detention.