A community fears criminals will believe they can get away with more and more after police failed to turn up to a violent street attack.

A police investigation has been launched following the incident where a couple were assaulted in an unprovoked attack by a gang of about 10 teenagers in Hertford Street, East Oxford.

The victims want to know why nobody came despite a 999 call - although the area's top policeman could not promise the situation would get any better.

The 44-year-old man, who was attacked along with his 22-year-old girlfriend, said: "I did not know if they wanted to put me in hospital, or kill me, or see me crawling around covered in blood.

"I read last week about a goth who was murdered in a park by a bunch of youths, so I was very disturbed that the police did not come."

The man, who did not want to be identified, added: "If the police had come within five minutes, the youths might have been still there. I am worried they might strike again.

"I cannot believe it is the last time or the first time."

The attack happened at about 11.30pm on March 6. When the victims' housemate Nicky Chapman called police, she was told they did not have any officers to send.

Ms Chapman said: "These two people were in a terrible state. Who knows what might happen next time if the youths think they can get away with it?"

Anthony Cheke, who runs the Inner Bookshop in Magdalen Road, has raised concerns about the police response to incidents.

He said: "Once people get the idea that the police are not giving any attention to serious assaults, I think they are going to be rather less restrained in committing them.

"They are giving the victims the impression of really not caring about it."

East Oxford police Inspector Brian Cooper said the matter had been referred to Thames Valley Police headquarters quality of service department, which looked at all incidents where an immediate response was not provided.

He said: "It is an unfortunate fact of life. It almost does not matter how many police officers you have on duty, there will come times when we are stretched. We had come to saturation point and we had no officers left.

"I can't promise you that things will get any better."

He said officers had been called to incidents just a few minutes before, including an assault where a man sustained serious head injuries, a bag snatch, a burglary, someone trying to enter a property using violence, and a bottle fight in the city centre.

The couple's assailants were described as a group of about 10 boys and girls in casual clothing and hooded tops aged between 14 and 16.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.