A COUPLE and their eight-year-old son came to the aid of an injured man after the third hammer attack near Bank Hall Park, Burnley, in less than a week.

They raised the alarm and gave first aid to a 54-year-old man who had been assaulted on a lane leading to the site of the old Bank Hall Miners' Club at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

Police were yesterday interviewing a 24-year-old Asian man about the incident. The attack happened while another man was being held over two similar attacks last week. He has now been released on police bail.

The latest victim was yesterday (Wednesday) being treated at Burnley General Hospital for head wounds, a fractured cheekbone and cuts on the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector Clive Tattum, who is leading the inquiry, said police found a knife and a 2lb lump hammer near the scene of the attack.

He said he was not ruling out a connection between all the incidents because of their similarities and proximity, but it was possible that there was more than one person responsible for the attacks. He said plain-clothes officers had been working in Bank Hall park. Inquiries are continuing in the area.

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