A ten-year-old schoolgirl was attacked by a woman in a children’s play park because the youngster was on a swing she wanted to use.

Abigail Titchener was punched in the back of the neck and dragged over a fence by the woman who had a young girl with her.

The woman ordered year six pupil Abigail – who is now too scared to go out – off the swing.

She got off it but the woman went to her car, put the little girl who accompanied her into it and returned to Abigail.

She said to Abigail, “Now it’s time to learn some manners”, before launching a savage attack on her.

Abigail’s jumper was ripped in the attack and she suffered cuts, bruises and suspected whiplash. She burst into tears and was so distraught on Thursday she went home early from her school, St Margaret’s in Angmering, near Littlehampton.

Abigail’s parents Kevin and Michaela Titchener, of Palmer Road, Angmering are shocked by the incident.

Michaela, 32 said: “I was absolutely horrified when Abigail came home crying.

“It’s a terrifying thing to happen to anyone – but it beggars believe anyone would do this to a ten-year-old.

“This woman punched her in the neck and then grabbed her by her jumper and dragged her through the back of the fence.

“She could have been seriously injured.

“I couldn’t stand still when I heard about it. I was terrified.

“I still can’t sleep. Abigail won’t go to the shop now and we are going to take her to the doctor because we think she might have whiplash.”

Recounting what happened, Mrs Titchener, who has five children, continued: “She was at the park with her friend.

“They were sat on the swing, just being little girls, giggling and playing.

“Abigail said the woman came over and said, ‘Get off the swing now’.

“She went and took her child who was only about two to the car.

“She then returned to Abigail. She said, ‘Now it’s time to learn some manners’, grabbed her and attacked her.

“She had grazes to her neck and side.

“I can’t believe she came back to attack her. I am so angry.

“Luckily my son, Warren, was in the park and he ran to get me.

“Abigail said, ‘I am never walking to the shop again, Mummy’.

“She was really tearful.”

Police confirmed they are hunting the woman who attacked Abigail, who has a twin, Hannah.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called on Wednesday afternoon (11 September) following a report that a ten-year-old girl had been attacked by a woman who was with a small child whilst she was in Angmering Park.

“The youngster was on a swing when she was approached by the blonde-haired woman, who told her to get off.

“The victim moved away and the female took her child to a car before returning and hitting the victim in the neck and pulling her by the hood. She then got in a blue car and drove off.

“The little girl involved was, understandably, extremely upset by what happened and suffered scratches and reddening to her neck as a result of the incident.”

Witnesses to the incident should call Sussex Police on 101.