VICIOUS yobs who carried out a sickening and unprovoked attack knocked out Paul Houston's front teeth and left him nursing a badly bruised eye.

The 27-year-old machine operator was knocked unconscious when he was jumped on from behind as he walking home after a night out with workmates in Blackburn town centre.

Speaking today from his home in the Fishmoor area of Blackburn, he said: "I was minding my own business and the next thing I knew I was in agony lying in the middle of a main road.

"I really don't know what sort of pleasure these people get out of trying to beat somebody to a pulp."

The savage assault took place close to Blackburn Ice Arena at around 2.30am on Saturday.

"I heard shouting behind me but didn't take much notice," said Paul, who works at British Steel, Guide.

"Then one of the lads confronted me. We wrestled for a while and then his two mates jumped in. "I was somehow knocked to the ground. I just curled in a ball and waited until they got fed up kicking and punching me." When Paul came round he flagged down a police car and reported the incident before making his way Blackburn Royal Infirmary for treatment.

He added: "I just hope somebody saw something and can help bring these people to justice.

"They can't be allowed to go around beating people up for no reason."

The main attacker is white, in his late teens, around 5' 10" tall, of stocky build with short light brown hair.

He was wearing a light cream shirt which was pulled off during the fight.

His accomplices were also in their late teens with short hair. One is believed to be of mixed race, slim with tight black curly hair and the other is shorter than his friends with dark brown hair.

Paul has been referred to an eye specialist for treatment and needs extensive dental treatment.

Inspector Andy Pratt of Blackburn Police said: It was a totally unprovoked attack that has left the victim in quite a bad way.

"We would particularly like to hear from taxi drivers or other motorists in the area at the time. Any information will be treated with the strictest confidence."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.