Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a Chorley man was brutally attacked just yards from his home.

Michael Moon, 35, is in a coma after he was found lying in a pool of blood around the corner from his flat in Stump Lane, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police described the attack as 'nasty and suspicious'.

Mr Moon remains in a 'poorly but stable' condition in Chorley Hospital.

A friend who was out with him in Preston and Chorley earlier on Saturday evening, said he was shocked at what had happened. He said: "I went to see Mick in hospital and I couldn't recognise him because of his head injuries."

Mr Moon was found unconscious, with serious head and upper body injuries, by two passers-by at the junction of Stratford Road and Primrose Street. They alerted police immediately.

Detectives have been unable to speak to him about what happened because he has been placed into an induced coma to help his recovery.

Det Sgt Alan Acheson of Chorley police said: "It is understood that the man had earlier visited the Tut'n'Shive pub in Market Street.

"He visited the Nile takeaway near the market place and was picked up on CCTV there at around 2.25am.

"But that was the last time he was seen, and within an hour of leaving there he was found 'sparked out' on the floor close to his home.

"We are anxious to talk to anyone who may have seen him that night, particularly between 2.30am and 3am. He would have crossed the bypass near the bus station on his way home.

"We need to fill in that crucial gap between him leaving the Nile takeaway and when he was found.

"If anyone saw him we would like to hear from them."

At the time of the attack Mr Moon was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with blue stripes and light blue jeans, he is 5ft 10in tall and has very short hair.

His friend added: "We had got a taxi back from Preston just after midnight on Saturday and had gone for another drink, there was no hint of trouble during the night out.

"He wasn't that drunk at all and told me he was leaving to go home around 2am."

Anyone with information can call Chorley CID on 01257 246222 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.