A MAN in remission from leukaemia was attacked with a hammer after he was confronted by a group of teenagers.

Rossendale police are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened on the busy Rochdale Road, Bacup.

Peter Warren, 48, who lives in Bacup and is in remission after chemotherapy for leukaemia, was left covered in blood and ran to the nearby George and Dragon pub on Rochdale Road, to raise the alarm.

Landlady Carol McLoughlin said: "He was in a right mess and was covered in blood. He had been very poorly and he is only just recovering from that.

"He comes into our pub on a Friday night just to play a few games of cards and dominoes and he is a very quiet and unassuming man.

"He is a very private person who would never look for trouble or do anything to provoke someone into doing this to him."

She said together with another lady she patched him up as best she could and called for the police and ambulance.

Det Con Jarron Sharp said: "It was a totally unprovoked attack on a man who was just walking home.

"He was verbally abused by a group of possibly four or five white youths and then one of them reached into a bag and produced a hammer and just started hitting Mr Warren about the face and head.

"There was no reason for the attack, they had not made any requests or any demands.

"It seems to me that this gang were just out looking for a fight."

He was taken to Rochdale Infirmary suffering from a deep cut above his right eye which needed gluing back together and a bruised cheek and allowed home after treatment.

There is no description of the youths.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at 9.50pm on Friday. and might have seen the gang to contact Rossendale police on 01706 237442.