TEENAGER Flora Camacho needed hospital treatment after becoming a victim of a split between groups known as goths and townies at Devizes School.

Flora, 15, of Longcroft Road, Devizes, says she was kicked and punched by other girls in Year 10 after a silly misunderstanding over a Pictionary-style game in a tutor group.

She said she was kicked on the ground as a large group of chanting youngsters stood and watched.

But she and her parents are determined she will stay at the school and work with headteacher Malcolm Irons to try and create an atmosphere of respect and tolerance for different dress and music tastes.

Mr Irons this week said he was shocked and appalled by the incident and was treating it very seriously.

"We have taken very strong sanctions," he said. "One of the girls has been excluded for the maximum ten days and there will be a governors' meeting to decide her future. If she is not willing to say she is sorry and convince us this will not happen again there she could be permanently excluded even though this was her first offence of this nature.

"I have made it clear to everyone in the year group this sort of behaviour is not acceptable. There has always been different groups of youngsters and there is going to be a certain amount of falling out, but violence is never acceptable."

Flora, who is expecting to do well in her exams and wants to study A-levels at Bath College, said: "I have suffered quite a bit of bullying in the past. I get called things because of my name, the way I dress and the music I like but I have lots of friends and they have all stood by me.

"After I was attacked I got loads of texts from people backing me, which made me feel much better."

Flora and her friends are goths or emos' short for emotional.

"The people who try and bully us are mainly girls. They are chavs and think they are hard."

Flora was attacked during a lunchbreak last week. She says one girl tried to punch her but she defended herself as she has learnt judo.

But then another girl came at her from behind and eventually she fell to the floor where she says three girls kicked and punched her in the back and head.

When her mother Claire, 41, a textile designer, arrived at the school she was shocked by the scene.

She said: "It was appalling. There was a big crowd chanting and swearing.

"I am supportive of the school and of Mr Irons but this sort of behaviour is not acceptable."

Devizes police are investigating the incident.