A DISABLED father-of-two today told how he was beaten by a drunken gang of teenagers in front of his wife.

The unprovoked attack on Colin Farrell, 41, who has a false left leg, has been condemned by police as "sickening" and "despicable".

They said it was only luck that prevented him from serious injury.

Colin, of Infirmary Road, Blackburn, was knocked to the floor and attacked by the gang who punched and kicked him, leaving him badly cut and bruised.

He has not slept since the attack and is contemplating moving from his home of four months with his wife and children.

Detectives believe one of the five youths, aged around 18, may not have taken part in the assault and are appealing for him to come forward.

Colin was set upon after confronting the youths who had just damaged his car with a scooter they were using.

The scooter was swung at his head, but he managed to catch it.

He said: "I could smell alcohol and I knew they were looking for trouble.

"I shouted for my wife to call the police. They asked me to give the scooter back, but I said I was keeping it until the police arrived.

"Then they took it back anyway and came at me, one went high and one went low. I caught one of them with the scooter as I swung around and fell.

"They were all hitting me and I was just trying to protect my head, that's all I was thinking."

At this point a taxi drove up as the youths were beating Colin, who was lying in the road in its path.

Colin, thinking quickly, grabbed one of the youths and rolled both of them away to safety.

Police have praised him for this action in saving the life of his attacker and himself.

His ordeal ended soon after as the gang fled towards Mosley Street when a man shouted to them from nearby.

Colin was taken to nearby Blackburn Royal Infirmary and had a cut on the back of his head glued. Treatment was also given to a black eye and bruising to much of his front and back.

He has been off work at Blackburn's Remploy, where he is a welder, since the attack, and has also been signed off for a further seven days.

"I looked like I had been in a boxing match," said Colin who only has two fingers on his right hand and needs to have his right leg amputated

"Since I haven't slept at all. I am having bad headaches and pressure pains.

"I have never known anyone to be beaten by five. I would like them to get what they deserve."

Detective Inspector Neil Hunter said: "It's a despicable attack. He has then been set upon by four or five youths who are half his age. It's through good luck rather than good management that this man has not received more serious injuries."

DI Hunter also appealed for the taxi driver and anyone in the area last Saturday at around 10.30pm, to come forward.

He said if people were worried about their own safety, they could contact the police in confidence by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The other number is Blackburn police on 01254 51212.