A WORKMAN was hit over the head with a hammer in an unprovoked assault after going to fix the front door of a flat.

Police said the maintenance worker for Hyndburn Homes was pushed down a flight of stairs before being struck on the head with a hammer.

The 34-year-old joiner from Accrington suffered injuries to his eye and arm in the incident in Henry Street, Church, but was able to flee yesterday at 9.30am.

He was treated by paramedics and was well enough to accompany officers to Accrington Police Station to give a statement.

Police said the incident was being taken very seriously and could have been "potentially horrific".

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on the suspicion of wounding in connection with the incident and was due to be questioned by police today.

Inspector Terry Woods said: "This incident could potentially have been very serious. The joiner was going about his business in a normal way before becoming the victim of a completely unprovoked attack."

The joiner works for social landlord Hyndburn Homes, which owns the first floor flat where the repairs were taking place.

Nigel Fenton, the head of neighbourhood services at Hyndburn Homes, said: "An attack on one of our members of staff when he is trying to do his job is totally unacceptable.

"Hyndburn Homes will not tolerate this sort of behaviour and if it is discovered that his attacker was one of our tenants we will begin the procedures to repossess their home.

"Our staff are very important to us and we will take a hard line on any incident like this."

Mr Fenton said the joiner was repairing the door after it had been vandalised.

The flat, opposite the Monte Cristo Italian restaurant, has now been boarded up.