A 16-year-old student was punched from his bike and had his head stamped on in an unprovoked attack which has left him fighting for his life in hospital.

A man in his 20s has been arrested following the attack in Sheerness High Street at around 11.30am today.

Witnesses said the man stamped on the boy's head before walking off.

The boy has since been airlifted to a London hospital.

His father, motor mechanic Joe Cato, 38, from Sittingbourne dashed to the scene.

He said: "As far as I have been told, my son Bradley was riding his bike when a man punched him in the head and knocked him to the ground.

"He then started stamping on his head. Some people tried to intervene but the man ran off. He is very large. One person said he was 30-stone. My son is only nine stone. The man is a monster."

Mr Cato added: "It seems it was just a random attack. My son is a good boy. He's not naughty. He goes to Sheppey College. As far as I know, he was on his lunch break at the time."

Bradley is studying building skills and lives with his mother. He has two brothers.

Mr Cato runs a garage in Teynham. He said: "I was due to pick Bradley up from his home tomorrow."

An air ambulance helicopter landed in Beachfields next to the sandpit behind the High Street and took off with Bradley on board around 1pm after medics had tried to stabilise him.

Police taped off the road between Victory Street and Russell Street and closed it to traffic. It was still cordoned off at 3.15pm this afternoon.

A police forensics officer has visited the scene and taken away some of Bradley's belongings which were left strewn over the road.

His bike was left propped up against the back of a police car.

Bradley was given first aid at the scene and then treated by paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance.

Detectives investigating the assault have made one arrest and have now appealed for witnesses.

A police spokesman said: "A teenage boy is reported to have been pushed from his bicycle and then assaulted by a man. The suspect is then said to have got into a car and driven away from the scene.

"The boy suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a London hospital where he remains in a critical condition."

A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

Officers are carrying out enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.

Anyone with information should call police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 18-0526 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Director at Phoenix Taxis Bill Haylock said he had to close his office when police put the cordon in place.

"We had to close. People couldn't walk down to us in the office to pick up their taxis," Mr Haylock added.

"Our drivers had to go out to people and pick them up from where they were.

"I never saw what happened but our controller went out to get some lunch and then couldn't get back into the office.

"I hope everyone is all right."

Mum Jamie Leigh wrote on Facebook: "I was there with my two-year-old. It petrified my son. He was very upset and kept saying he was scared.

"I got him away as quick as I could. It was awful. I hope that poor boy has a speedy recovery."

Watch video of the cordon outside the Belle and Lion pub here.

Read more: All the latest news from the Isle of Sheppey