A MAN viciously glassed in the head in a street attack today said: "I'm too scared to go into town again."

Chris Faller, 35, was about to return home after a day out celebrating with friends when he was assaulted as he tried to get into a taxi outside Morrison's supermarket near The Boulevard.

He was stabbed repeatedly in the back of the head with a broken bottle.

Mr Faller suffered extensive cuts to his head, neck and ear and needed 47 stitches. Doctors at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where Chris was treated for his injuries, told him one more cut to his head could have killed him.

Unemployed Mr Faller, of Rothesay Road, Blackburn, said: "I just won't go out any more, it's as simple as that. I am too scared to leave my own house and I daren't go into town at all. I am terrified.

"When I was attacked everything just went black and I thought that I was going to die. I really thought it was the end. I just kept struggling, literally for my life.

"All I want is for the police to catch whoever did this so I can start to live a normal life again. Whenever I see someone I don't recognise in the street I start to panic and think they might be coming after me.

"I have even started to grow my hair to try to cover up the scars."

Police are now searching for the attacker with the bottle and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

One man has already been arrested and interviewed by police in connection with the assault and released on police bail.

Det Sgt Paul Withers, of Blackburn CID, said: "This was a vicious assault on a man who had a bottle repeatedly rammed into his face by an attacker who then fled the scene.

"We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour and would urge anyone who may have seen the incident or who has information to contact us on 01254 353569 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The attacker was described as white, slim, five ft five ins tall, aged in his early 20s, with short fair hair.

The attack happened at about 6.45pm on Tuesday, December 18.

But details were only released today.

Last month the Lancashire Evening Telegraph highlighted the problems of town centre violence in Blackburn and the measures being taken by the police and council to crack down on it.

A ban on drinking in the streets is one of a number of those measures aimed at fulfilling the constabulary motto of making people feel "safe, involved and reassured."

In Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington, high visibility policing is believed to be making people feel safer at night as part of the ongoing "Operation Safer Streets."

And in Blackburn, extra CCTV cameras and improved street lighting, along with a doorman registration scheme have helped make the town centre feel safer.