A BOY of 12 was hurt after allegedly being beaten up on a golf course.

Police said they had released another 12-year-old boy following the incident.

Officers said the boy was being investigated in connection with causing actual bodily harm.

The altercation was said to have happened on the course at Furness Golf Club at Central Drive on Walney on Saturday afternoon.

It led to a former mayor of Barrow saying youth violence was ‘out of control’ in the town.

According to police, the victim suffered minor injuries in the incident.

In a statement, a spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “Police were called to a report of an assault which happened on the golf course in Barrow, at around 2.30pm on 13th September.

“A 12-year-old boy was assaulted by another 12-year-old boy, who has since been released under investigation for ABH.

“The victim suffered minor injuries.”

Councillor Bill McEwan, the previous mayor of Barrow, reacted in horror to the incident.

He said: “It’s absolutely atrocious what has happened.

“My heart goes out to the family of the victim.

"I’m sure they will be hurting.

“It’s an awful thing to have happened.

“When I was young we used to have a scuffle behind the bike sheds."

Cllr McEwan called for stronger measures to deter youths engaging in violent crimes.

He said: “Youth violence is getting out of control.

“I don’t know what to do.

"There needs to be stronger deterrent.

“The youth courts can only do so much to stop it.

“Maybe corporal punishment is not the answer but we need to sort it out.”