A SECURITY guard was slashed with a knife in a late night attack after a gang of youths broke into a building site in Portishead

A SECURITY guard was slashed with a knife in a late night attack after a gang of youths broke into a building site in Portishead.The guard was patrolling the site at Brampton Way at around midnight on Friday when he heard a number of banging noises and went to investigate.He came upon a gang of around a dozen youths and asked them what they were doing on the site.The youths then surrounded him, chanting insults and pushing him, and he realised one was holding a knife.During the fracas the guard was slashed on the right arm, causing a slight scratch.The yobs then ran off towards the High Street and the guard called the police.Minutes later the gang, now 20 in strength, returned, calling at the guard to come out and fight.But they ran off before police arrived.Officers carried out a detailed search of the area after reports the gang had been seen at Wyndham Way and High Street.Portishead Police Sergeant Terry Scoble said he was shocked at the incident.Sgt Scoble added: "We are treating this as a very serious incident."We are confident it was local youths who were involved and an investigation is ongoing."One of the men is described as a white male, about 5ft 9ins tall and aged between 17-18-years-old.He was of medium build and was wearing dark coloured jeans and a black hooded top and a green baseball cap.He was also carrying a small rucksack.Anyone with information about the incident should contact Portishead police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.