A 24-YEAR-OLD man is in hospital with a punctured lung after being stabbed in the town centre.

Police say Joseph Conroy was attacked while walking in the town in the early hours of yesterday.

Officers were alerted at 1am by ambulance crews who were called by a resident in Fountain Street, Accrington, after she heard shouting.

Mr Conroy, of Chestnut Grove, Accrington, was walking with a friend, Mark Roberts, also 24, of Beech Grove, Accrington, from the Fern Gore area towards the town centre when the pair were approached by up to five youths, aged around 18.

They were chased from Wordsworth Road, down Ormerod Street and into Fountain Street where Mr Conroy was stabbed twice with a small bladed weapon.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary's high dependency unit where he was today said to be improving.

Officers say the youth responsible for the stabbing was of medium build with a round, plump face, with short blond hair and possibly wearing a yellow jumper. The other youths were described only as white.

DS Paul Broxson, of Accrington CID, said: "On the face of it it does appear to be an unprovoked attack and it has led to quite serious consequences."

Anyone with any information should contact Accrington CID on 01254 353740.