A mother who was racially abused when she tried to protect her daughter from a gang of girls has called on authorities to do more to stop similar attacks on other children.

Jane Fenton, of Woodford, wants Haringey Police and Haringey Borough Council to take action againsts gangs after her ten-year-old daughter was attacked in a playground in Northumberland Park, Tottenham, on Saturday.

A gang of nine 12-year-old girls descended on Ms Fenton’s daughter and pushed and shoved her off the slide at the park in Somerford Grove.

The 30-year-old mother stepped in to protect her daughter and was subjected to verbal abuse and threatened with physical violence.

Ms Fenton said: “My daughter was crying and I told the group of girls to leave her alone when they turned on me and started abusing me.

“They called me a 'white whore' and told me they were going to stab me and my child.

“I couldn’t believe a group of 12-year-olds were saying these sorts of things to me – they were just children.”

As Ms Fenton was speaking to a park attendant, one of the girls assaulted her daughter for a second time.

The gang then shouted abuse as they followed the mother and daughter from the park.

The park is an adventure playground run by the Haringey Play Association, which rents the land from Haringey Borough Council.

Ms Fenton, of Woodford, has since complained to both Haringey Police and the council and asked them to take action.

She said: “I grew up in Tottenham and I’m ashamed of the place after this.

“There are gangs of children running around terrorising and threatening to stab people and nobody seems to be doing anything.

“This isn’t just about the crime against me and my daughter, it’s about stopping it happening to other children who live in the area.”

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of Ms Fenton’s complaint and we will be contacting her directly to get more information about this incident.”

According to the police, the group consisted of black females aged between 10 and 14 years.

Officers are appealing for information. Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information concerning the identity of the girls should contact Detective Constable Gemma Goldsbro of Haringey Community Safety Unit on 020 3276 3170.