Teenage busker suffers panic attacks after abuse

A teenage busker said she has started to suffer panic attacks and anxiety after experiencing abuse during some of her recent performances.

Willow often performs around Hull city centre but has told the BBC that she is starting to experience more and more harassment.

The singer, who broadcasts her performances on social media, said she is targeted "particularly by men and teenage boys" who "just want attention".

In one video, the teenager was reduced to tears after a gang of young men stood too close to her while she tried to perform.

"They came up behind me and got quite close, way past my comfort zone. I started crying and stopped singing," she said.

"Someone had a go at them and told them to move but I put my stuff away at that point because I couldn't carry on."

The 17-year-old said incidents like that have had a negative impact on her mental health and she has experienced "mini panic attacks" before performing.

She added: "I've now got really, really bad anxiety when I go busking and if I see a group of people I get nervous thinking it's going to happen again."

Willow, 17, said busking in Hull city centre is impacting her mental health after experiencing abuse and harassment

Willow's mum, Chrissy, said her daughter's experiences mean she "worries" every time she visits the city centre to sing.

She said: "That's my little girl there feeling really unsafe and uncomfortable. I wonder what they get from it for making a young woman feel so scared?"

Earlier this year, a performance by Willow was seen by millions of people around the world after she was filmed singing with Youtube and TikTok star Liv Harland.

At the time, Willow talked about how busking had helped to boost her confidence and had "made her a better person".

However, Willow said the negative experiences are outweighed by positive comments from members of the public who stop to watch her sing.

One bystander, filmed by the BBC, can be seen giving Willow a hug, telling her to "stay strong" and described her as an "amazing singer".

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