A MAN needed hospital treatment after being attacked as he made his way home from work.

The 25-year-old man had travelled to Accrington by bus and was walking along Willows Lane at 9.30pm on Wednesday while chatting on his phone.

As he turned right into Richmond Road he walked past a group of three or four Asian men.

As he looked behind him, he was hit in the face, which caused him to drop his mobile phone and fall to the floor. He ran off up Richmond Road, to a nearby shop, and called the police.

The man was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment to bruising, swelling and a cut above his left eye.

Detective Sergeant Zoe Russo said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a man who was making his way home from work.

“As it was bonfire night, there may have been people around at the time and I would urge anyone who saw what happened to contact us.”

Anybody with information on the attack should call 01254 51212.