POLICE hunting a thug who launched a "vicious and prolonged attack" on a father-of-two today named a man they wanted to question about the offence.

They took the unusual step of issuing a picture of Naveed Ahmed, above, after being unable to trace him during their inquiries into the incident.

Dennis Shaw, of Kingston Avenue, Accrington, suffered head and facial injuries in the attack outside Imran and Nathan's Snooker and Leisure Club in Richmond Road, Accrington, on Saturday August 3. He had been kicked and punched unconscious and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital after a passer-by found him groaning on the ground and phoned for an ambulance.

Today Detective Sergeant Mark Rothwell, of Accrington CID, said: "Following the serious assault on Dennis Shaw on Saturday, August 3, police have taken the unusual step of naming a person they wish to question in connection with that incident.

"Police would like to speak to Naveed Ahmed who is 21 and of Fountain Place in Accrington in connection with that incident in order to eliminate him from inquiries.

"We have done everything we can at this stage in relation to appealing for witnesses, interviewing and taking statements from potential witnesses. And people have given us information on the movements of Dennis Shaw on that night.

"We are still investigating this serious assault and would ask any witnesses who have not yet come forward to contact police."

Mr Shaw, 32, who has relatives living in Blackburn, was initially put on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of the hospital but is now on a ward. He was today said to be stable and improving.

DS Rothwell said: "This was a vicious and prolonged attack and Dennis Shaw is still too unwell to provide us with a written statement although he has been spoken to initially by detectives."

Mr Shaw's attackers were aged between 16 and 30 but officers were unable to say whether they white or Asian. One was wearing a light-coloured baseball cap and the other a light-coloured sports top tied around his waist.

Anyone with information is asked to call Accrington CID on 01254 353741 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.