THREE youths have been arrested and will be questioned today after a 41-year-old man was attacked with hammers on his own doorstep.

Police said the victim, who has not been named, nearly died when a broken rib punctured his lungs.

The man who was attacked on the doorstep of his home in Parkinson Street, Burnley, at 2am yesterday. He suffered other horrific injuries in the violent assault including a fractured skull and damaged kidneys. He was in the critical care unit at Burnley General Hospital and his condition described as very poorly.

Police refused to reveal the ages of the teenagers who were arrested.

Detectives investigating the horror attack which happened when he answered the front door of his house in Burnley Wood are still trying to find out why he was singled out.

DS Dave Fleming said: "He is a normal, upstanding member of the community."

DC Dave Walker added: "We don't know the reason for the attack. We are carrying out extensive inquiries in the area and would like to hear from anyone with information.

"It was a nasty and violent incident. He very nearly died because his lung had collapsed.

"His ribs were broken with a hammer and one punctured his lung making it extremely difficult for him to breath.

"As he opened the door he was confronted by three youths wearing scarves or with their jackets pulled up to partially cover their faces.

"They repeatedly struck him about the head and body with two hammers culminating in a blow to the right side of his skull."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or ring Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.