A chef is in hospital with serious head injuries following a mystery attack in Darwen town centre.

The 47-year-old had left the Roxy Nightclub at 4.10am on Sunday and walked to the Golden Grill takeaway on Market Street.

Police said he didn’t stay because of the size of the queue.

Shortly after, he was viciously attacked and police believe he was knocked to the floor ‘with some force’.

He suffered serious head injuries, including multiple facial fractures and a fractured skull. He was seen by some witnesses stumbling home covered in blood.

When he failed to turn up for work later on Sunday, his boss called round and found him ‘barely recogniseable’.

Police were called and the man remains in Royal Blackburn Hospital.

DI Rob Anderson said: “We are very keen to speak to anyone who had recently left Roxy’s around that time, or who was at the takeaway.”