A MOTHER has told of her son's ordeal at the hands of armed teenage muggers who pounced in a busy Leytonstone road and stole his grandmother's birthday card.

Julia, too scared to give her full name, said that the gang all armed with knives later swarmed around her car and threatened her 15-year-old son again.

The gang laid their ambush on Monday as the boy and his cousin were walking in Harrow Road in the early evening rush hour.

They knocked him to the ground, held a knife into his stomach and took his mobile phone and the card. The boys ran home and reported the incident to the police.

Later that night Julia had to go out to Cathall Road to visit a cashpoint, and took her son with her.

She said: "We pulled up in Cathall Road and this gang swarmed around the car.

"My son recognised two of them from the first attack. They were very threatening. I was terrified but we managed to drive off and escape them."

Julia believes the gang are trying to control the area and intimidate anyone on their patch.

She called the police when she returned home but they didn't arrive until two hours later.

This is the third time this year the boy has been attacked in the street by youths.

Julia said: "I don't know how much more of this we can take. These gangs are out of control. They have no respect and no discipline in their lives."

Supt Chris Lemon said: "Unfortunately it appears we were unable to send a response car directly to the scene. Our responses are based on a priority system.

"People in immediate danger are dealt with first and as the mother was back in the safety of her home we had to push other priorities ahead."

Mr Lemon said the investigation was being treated very seriously.

Witnesses should call the crime management desk on 8345 2343 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.