A MAN had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain after he was viciously beaten in an unprovoked attack.

Today, the victim's wife pleaded with the public to help catch the beast who almost killed her husband.

Peter Anforth has been recovering in hospital after the assault in Burnley town centre on Saturday night.

The 38-year-old was knocked out when he was punched to the ground and left for dead.

Emergency crews rushed him to Burnley General Hospital before he was transferred to the specialist head injuries unit at Royal Preston Hospital where doctors performed an operation to remove the potentially life-threatening blood clot.

Mr Anforth, a security guard for Wilkinsons in Burnley, was said to be in a stable condition.

His wife Beverley, who has been at her husband's bedside, today told of the brutal attack that ended the couple's Saturday night out and urged people to aid the police in their hunt for the savage thug.

Mrs Anforth, 39, of Scarlett Street, Burnley, said: "Peter and I were out in Burnley for a few drinks. We had been to a couple of bars when we had a bit of a tiff.

"It was nothing really but I walked out of the bar and up the road. Peter caught up with me near the church and we carried on talking. A couple of girls asked if I was OK and the next thing I knew this man and girl came up. Something was said and he just hit Pete and walked off.

"Pete was out cold and I noticed blood pouring from his ear. Someone helped me get him on his side before another couple called an ambulance.

"I still can't believe what happened. This man wasn't involved in the argument and had no right to intervene. What gets me is that after knocking Pete to the floor he just walked away calmly as if nothing had happened. I am disgusted. This man needs to be caught."

Detectives hunting Mr Anforth's attacker said they were called to a report of an assault in Hargreaves Street, near the benches outside the Central Methodist Church, at about 10.45pm on Saturday.

Police said witnesses told how Mr Anforth was punched in the head. He fell to the ground and remained unconscious.

Detective Sergeant Derry Crorken, who is leading the investigation, said: "This seems to have been an unprovoked attack. This was a very serious incident which left a man with potentially life-threatening injuries and we are treating it as a very serious assault."

The suspect was described as an Asian male who was light skinned, possibly of mixed race. He was in his late 20s or early 30s, 5ft 9ins to 6ft tall, had a slim, athletic build and short, dark hair. He spoke with a local accent and wore a white short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers.

His female companion was said to be white, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall, slim, with blond wavy hair. She wore white clothing.

After the assault, both walked down Hargreaves Street towards Hammerton Street.

Police appealed for witnesses or anyone who might know the people involved to contact Det= Sgt Derry Crorken or DC Dave North at Burnley CID on 01282 472280 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.