DETECTIVES were today due to question a man who suffered severe facial injuries during an alleged confrontation with travellers.

Paramedics were called to slipper manufacturer J F Tomlinson (Footwear) Ltd, Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, just after midnight yesterday.

The 56-year-old Rossendale man, who suffered serious injuries, was arrested at the scene and later given police bail. He was taken to Bury General Hospital before being transferred to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. He later discharged himself from hospital.

Detective Sergeant Stuart Barlow, of Rossendale CID, was due to interview the man, who has not been named by police, today.

A knife and petrol can were taken away by the police, according to Tom Wright, one of the travellers.

Mr Wright said: "I was asleep in my caravan when my missus woke me up and said there were flames at the window.

"I rushed out and got a churn of water to throw over the fire.

"There were women and children from the other caravans screaming their heads off. A woman rang the police. She was terrified."

Mr Wright said he was on his way from Appleby to a horse fair in Leeds. He pointed out scratches on his van he said were caused during the altercation. Police are investigating allegations the confrontation began when the man tried to move the travellers off the factory site.

John Tomlinson, one of the factory's owners, would not confirm whether or not the injured man worked at the factory.

He said: "I don't really want to comment. It's a tricky situation at the moment. The travellers have been here a week and we've had numerous and varied problems with them but I don't want to go into it."