A MAN suffered serious facial injuries after being slashed across the face in a daylight attack.

Police said the 20-year-old victim was attacked in Clitheroe Road, Brierfield, close to the Station Garage at 12.30pm yesterday.

The man, who works in the garage, underwent several hours of emergency surgery at the Royal Blackburn Hospital last night for a single slash wound.

His injuries are understood to be serious but not life threatening.

A police spokesman said officers were investigating why the Asian man had been targeted but said they had been unable to speak to him about the attack.

The spokesman said the exact kind of weapon used was not yet known but described it as “bladed”.

Yesterday officers spent several hours taking statements from people in the area including the man’s colleagues.

Detective Inspector Dave Groombridge, of Nelson CID, said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and witnessed something to come forward.

“I believe that there were at least two men involved, both white and around 5ft 10 ins tall, one of a slim build and the other stocky.

“They possibly left the scene in a black car heading towards Fence.

“We have our neighbourhood policing officers working in the area and I would like to reassure the local community that patrols have been stepped up in the area.”

A local trader said the news of someone being attacked in the street was a shock for the community even though problems in the area had been on the increase.

He said: “This is very shocking news for everyone living and working in Brierfield.

“There are quite a few problems these days with the younger population, I’d say it’s been on the rise for the past 10 years.”

Another trader, who also asked not to be named, said: “I saw a lot of police cars in the afternoon and wondered what was going on but nobody seemed to know.

“To hear that the man has been slashed is a real shock. That sort of thing doesn’t happen in this community.”

A resident of nearby Wood Street said: “To live just up the road from something like this is obviously a worry.

“We have problems round here, just like any other town, but not things like this.”

Pendle councillor Naeem Hussain Ashraf, of the Brierfield ward, said: "This is hugely rare and I am gobsmacked.

"Knife crime is a nationwide problem, but our crime figures have been quiet for a while, so this is very sad.

"I hope the police find those responsible and come down hard on them."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.