A MAN was attacked after being surrounded by a mob in a Blackburn street.

Eleven people in the 20-strong gang were arrested on suspicion of public order offences after violence erupted.

Police said that around five men punched, kicked and beat the 23-year-old victim with bats and he was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment.

He suffered cuts and bruises to his head, arms, legs and back, and discharged himself from hospital later that evening.

Police said they were inundated with calls after residents and passing motorists witnessed the attack on Bank Top at around 7.30pm on Sunday night.

Officers confirmed a number of the men, all in their 20s, were believed to be of Polish origin.

The attack happened outside St Luke and St Philip’s Church, in Bank Top.

The group scattered when police arrived, heading towards Griffin Park.

A resident of Montrose Street said: “I saw the gang dash down the back of the houses and across the adjacent waste ground with bats and sticks.

“There were ambulances and riot vans zooming past my house. I heard someone got attacked outside the church and the gang fled.”

A resident in nearby Griffin Street said: “My daughter rang me telling me to stay inside because the group of lads were heading towards my house.

“Police vans were parked all along the street and they were putting handcuffs on a load of lads.”

Yesterday some of the men had been released with no further action but three were still in custody.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to come forward to help them piece together what happened.

DS Adrian McHugh, of Blackburn CID, said: “I appeal to anyone who may have been in the area on foot or in a car to contact us.

“We are relying on witness statements to piece together what happened.”