AN 11-year-old boy was put in a chokehold and dragged off into woodland as he walked to a popular parkland in WGC.

The lad escaped his attacker’s clutches when he grabbed a broken glass beer bottle on the floor and swung it around.

The schoolboy, who was with two friends on a trip to Stanborough Park, then ran for safety.

His father, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told the Welwyn Hatfield Times his son, who turns 12 in July, had been “shaken” by the incident.

“He is obviously still in shock at the moment. He is quite shaken and upset by it all and has been quieter than normal.”

The incident happened by a grassy verge at 2.30pm on Sunday, opposite the park’s boating lake, on Stanborough Road.

“He was going past woodland when he felt a large arm go around his neck and was dragged about 15ft into an area of low branches.

“His friends heard him shout in the distance, and luckily he somehow managed to struggle out using this broken bottle he found.

“He couldn’t see the guy and was in such a panic, but knows it was someone a lot larger than him,” the father said.

“You just don’t expect that kind of thing to happen. You hear about it in the news in these little places just like WGC, but don’t think it will happen to your family.

“Now we’re just so glad that he did what he could to escape and that he is safe.

“It’s worrying to think that someone else might not be so lucky; I think it’s really serious.”

A police spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing.

She said: “We have investigated the scene and taken some items that could be used for possible forensic checks.

“The boy saw a blue sleeve, but we have no further identification.”

Anyone with information should call 0845 33 00 222.