A 48-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with an assault on a teenage boy outside Rainhill High School.

Merseyside Police were called to the school grounds at around 3.15pm on Thursday, October 7, after the assault was reported to officers.

The incident was filmed by a member of the public to a backdrop of horrified cries, and shows a suspect attacking the school boy and throwing him violently around on the pavement.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We have arrested a man after an assault in Prescot [on] Thursday 7 October.

"At around 3.15pm officers were called to a report of a disturbance outside Rainhill High School in Prescot.

"A man assaulted a teenage boy outside the building.

"A 48-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. He was taken to a police station in Merseyside for questioning by detectives and has been since been bailed."

In the video, a man wearing a dark coloured t-shirt and grey shorts can clearly seen throwing the schoolboy around and delivering numerous blows to his face.

The pupil, dressed in his school uniform, also appears to land some punches in retaliation until onlookers eventually interrupt the violence.

Police advise any witnesses with any information to pass this to them via their social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre'.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.