A teenager was nearly beaten to death by thugs in a violent new craze known as "tanning up".

The family of 17-year-old Willem Haymaker have taken the unusual step of releasing a picture of his serious injuries in an attempt to highlight the brutal attack.

Willem was assaulted near Egerton Park, leading to Sackville Road in Bexhill, as he walked home with a friend after an evening out.

Witnesses said a gang of between eight and 15 youths repeatedly beat the Bexhill College student, kicking him in the head and chest.

A member of the public called police at 8.10pm last Friday and Willem was taken by ambulance to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings with impaired vision, multiple bruises and broken bones.

He has since been released from hospital but has been referred to an eye consultant and to a second consultant because of damage to his nose.

Police believe the attack is part of a violent new craze, taken from the term "to give someone a good tanning", where gangs of youths take it in turns to beat their victim.

Police said there had been six similar attacks in Bexhill in the past six weeks and Willem was the latest target.

Willem's father, Father Bill Haymaker, Rector of St Paul's Anglican Parish in Bexhill, which is part of the Anglican Independent Communion, asked for the photograph of his son's injuries to be released to The Argus in an attempt to get witnesses to come forward.

He said: "This attack was nothing but gratuitous violence. These gangs pick on someone and attack them as a group with no other purpose than to hurt, maim or possibly kill.

"I am very concerned and hopelessly saddened. It might be peer pressure but peer pressure comes once you choose to be part of that crowd. This was pure evil.

"This will stay with my son for a long time, perhaps forever. He has severe concussion and fluid on the brain. He doesn't have his eyesight back completely, and may not.

"He requires extensive facial surgery.

"It's a sign of where our social values are heading. Who will be their next victim, chosen for their hair colour, their accent or their height? It is extremely frightening."

Inspector Martin Mann, of Bexhill Police, said: "This is not an isolated incident. This tanning up' seems to be a new trend to replace happy slapping'."

Chief Inspector of Rother Police Steve Brookman added: "I hope the publication of the photograph will encourage parents to ask where their children really are, what they are really up to and what they are going to do about it."

Three 15-year-old boys from Bexhill have been arrested and released on police bail in connection with the attack.

Anyone with information should call Inspector Mann at Bexhill Police Station on 0845 6070999.