STUDENTS celebrating a birthday were attacked by a gang of drug dealers on the beach.

Six men and a woman approached the group of Austrians on Brighton beach to offer them drugs on Friday, October 5 at 9.15pm.

The group of 30 Austrians were on a ten-day school trip to the city, and declined the offer.

They were celebrating a 16th birthday for one of their number.

But the gang launched an attack on five of the students, knocking one 15-year-old boy unconscious, while a 16-year-old girl was smashed in the face with a bottle.

The group returned to Austria on Wednesday. Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the attack.

They included a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and affray, and a 14-year-old boy from Crawley on suspicion of affray.

Both were bailed until November 1.

Anyone with information should report it to Sussex Police online or call 101 and quote 1253 of 05/10.