Two boys arrested over assault on youngsters

LONDON (Reuters) - Two boys were arrested on Sunday in connection with an attack on two other boys aged nine and 11 in South Yorkshire that left one in a critical condition in hospital.

Police said the arrested boys, aged 10 and 11, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and would be held overnight for further questioning on Monday.

The 11-year-old victim was found partially conscious at the bottom of a steep slope in Edlington, near Doncaster, and was taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital, where he was put into intensive care.

His condition was described as "critical but stable" and was showing improvement, police said.

Local resident Jean Wright told the BBC she had raised the alarm after her husband saw the nine-year-old boy walking past their house covered in blood.

"He had a big gash on his arm and he was covered in blood on his head. He was shaking very badly and going into shock," she said.

The nine-year old was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for an operation on his arm and was expected to have further surgery, police said.

(Reporting by Tim Castle; Editing by Jon Boyle)