Police hail girl's rescuers

Hamilton police are praising the actions of motorists who stopped to help a young girl being beaten up in the city by three girls.

Police said the girl suffered a broken tooth and a large cut to her face in the attack, which was on a footpath on the Boundary Rd Bridge, about 1km from the city's CBD.

"She was attacked by three girls aged 16, 15 and 15 ... and was quite badly beaten," said Detective Sergeant Neville Ross of Hamilton CIB.

"Fortunately even more serious injuries were avoided thanks to the timely intervention of passing motorists who stopped and came to the girl's rescue, seeing off her attackers."

Mr Ross said thanks to the help of the public on Friday, the police were able to make three quick arrests a short distance away on River Rd.

"This type of attack could leave you quite cynical about where Hamilton as a community is heading but for the brave actions of the public who made the decision that they weren't going to tolerate this kind of behaviour."

One girl was been taken into secure custody by Child, Youth and Family.

The other two are in custody to appear in the Hamilton Youth Court today.