A BURNLEY man who has lost the sight in one eye has spoken about the night he was attacked by a man wielding a plank of wood.

Michael Holt, of Herbert Street, has had to undergo more than seven hours of surgery after the unprovoked assault in Harry Potts Way, Burnley, but attempts to save the sight in his left eye failed.

The 43-year-old had been out with his girlfriend, Susan McGrath, also 43, in town and they had been to the Park View pub, in Brunshaw Road, for last orders on the night of the attack. But the pair had had an argument at the end of the night and Susan had stormed off. Michael went back down Brunshaw Road to find her.

He saw her talking to a man in the distance and sat watching for ten minutes before approaching. Michael said: "I told the man to go away and leave us alone and he crossed the road and walked off behind some railings. Then he started to throw money at me."

The man called him over and as Michael approached he thrust a wooden plank through the railings into his eye, before coming out from behind the railings and hitting him round the face and head with the plank several times.

The attack, which happened on Saturday, September 20. Police believe the offender was involved in a scuffle with friends over a game of pool earlier in the night He is described as being 19 or 20 years of age, around 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall, and of slim build. He has short dark hair and was wearing dark tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Anyone with information should call DC Rachel Waine or DC Dave Hindle on 01282 472149 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.