A NEW dad on a night out to celebrate the birth of his third child was left unconscious in a pool of blood after two thugs broke his jaw.

Mark Nicholson, 34, of Rishton, had not been on a night out for more than a year but was persuaded to go by family and friends.

He was set upon in the "unprovoked" and "horrendous" attack by two men on the corner of Church and Holme Street, in Accrington town centre, after being separated from his friends.

Mr Nicholson, whose other children are two boys aged four and five, was beaten so ferociously that he could not remember who he was until the following afternoon.

Elaine, his wife, today spoke of her horror at the incident and made a desperate appeal for witnesses to come forward.

She added: "You can talk to anyone who knows him -- he is a real family man. He is a carer for a living and he is the last person this could happen to.

"He is in an awful state. He remembers the first punch and that is about it, which is a blessing because witnesses say he took a real kicking.

"He is devastated, intimidated and vulnerable. He was having a really good night, then someone did this unprovoked. He hadn't done anything and these thugs set on him.

"It is important that witnesses come forward then we can catch those who did this."

He was attacked just after midnight on Saturday night.

DC John Wrintmore said Mr Nicholson was hit and kicked in the head and body several times, receiving serious bruising and swelling as well as the fracture at the base of his skull.

He added: "This was a wholly unprovoked and horrendous attack, the victim was just walking along trying to catch friends up after losing them in the Bridge Inn.

"He was set upon by the two men who punched him to the ground, knocking him unconscious, before kicking him while he laid there.

"He does not remember much at all about the attack and said he only remembers being hit. It happened at a busy time of night so there must have been witnesses to the attack."

Mr Nicholson is recovering in Blackburn Infirmary, where he will remain for at least another week.

Call Accrington CID on 01254 353743 with information.