A 13-YEAR-OLD boy attacked by a man whose car was hit by a snowball "could have been killed" according to his horrified mother.The family of the boy do not wish their identity to be revealed for fear of further reprisals, and have been left deeply shocked by the irate motorist's actions.

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy attacked by a man whose car was hit by a snowball "could have been killed" according to his horrified mother.

The family of the boy do not wish their identity to be revealed for fear of further reprisals, and have been left deeply shocked by the irate motorist's actions.

A group of boys were on their way home from school in Chimswell Way, Haverhill, on Tuesday when a snowball struck a car. The motorist caught one of the group and attacked him, leaving him deeply distressed and with a bloody nose.

The boy's mother told the EADT: "He was just playing snowballs with his friends and someone threw a snowball at him and he ducked and it hit a passing car.

"It wasn't deliberate and it wasn't even my son who threw it, but this man stopped the car and the boys scattered in every direction and he picked on my son.

"He chased him and then when he caught him he hit him on the back of the head, he then held his head between his hands and kneed him in the face and he hit him in the face with the back of his hand and threatened to break his neck."

She said she also believed that if the incident had not been in a built up area of town where there were potential witnesses, the incident could have been even worse.

She said: "I believe somebody like that who can lose their temper over something so small needs some help, they obviously cannot control their anger. I think if it had happened somewhere more isolated there would have been nothing to stop this man from killing my son.

"Thankfully there were somewhere were people could have seen what was happening, its so terrible what happened and we were all so shocked and worried."

The woman said she had taken her son to see a doctor and no bones were broken, as had originally been feared, but the boy suffered a bad nosebleed and had been very upset by the experience.

The attack took place at about 3.50pm on Tuesday and the attacker is described as being around 5ft 11 inches tall, with a shaved head and wearing a white jumper, and he was driving a light green car, possible a Citroen, and he may have had a passenger.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Pc Claire Burgess on 01284 774100.