A MAN has been told part of his head may remain numb for the rest of his life after a vicious nightclub attack left him needing plates in his face.

Father-of-one Carl Goodyear, of Rising Bridge, spent the weekend in hospital after being attacked at Churchill's nightclub in Accrington.

He suffered several fractures to his jaw, for which doctors inserted two metal plates and have placed wire around his gums.

He also has several small fractures to his skull and cuts and bruises all over following the attack, which Carl, 26, maintains was totally unprovoked.

Police today appealed for witnesses, describing the incident as "frightening."

Carl, who says his self-run building firm may suffer as a result of the attack because he is unable to meet potential clients, said today: "The club was packed and there is no way people didn't see anything.

"I walked out of the toilet and was going back to the dance floor when I was hit from the side.

"The person or people just kept pounding at me. I was crouched on the floor. When it stopped I looked up and I saw people disappearing.

"The bouncers came over and found me. They put me in a taxi and sent me to hospital."

He added: "If there had been some trouble I would have an idea of who has done this but it appears they just picked on me and went for it." A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for witnesses to this incident, which appears to be unprovoked. It is frightening.

"We know the club was busy so we would ask anyone who saw anything to contact us."

Carl added: "I have been told that if the nerve which was ripped during the accident does not get better in three months I will be numb in part of face for life.

"I have a wire around my jaw, two plates in my face, bruises all over and fractures to my skull which can only be left to heal -- all because I went out for a drink."

Carl's father Alan added: "I am so annoyed that people haven't felt the duty to come forward and offer evidence.

"Next time it could be them and next time it could be much more serious.

"My son has been left seriously injured, in a lot of pain and possibly permanently disfigured and affected.

"Anyone with any moral responsibility should talk to the police to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Anyone with any information can call Accrington Police on 01254 382141.