A FATHER was found unconscious eight hours after he was attacked by three men on his doorstep.

Kevin Nestor, aged 37, was punched in the face after he answered a knock at his front door during the night.

Hours later he was found unconscious in the living room of his home in Brookhurst Lane, Little Hulton.

As detectives hunted his attackers, Mr Nestor is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit at Salford's Hope Hospital.

A hospital spokesman said he was in a coma with a blood clot on his brain. His condition is described as serious but stable.

Detectives said the attack appeared to have been "totally unprovoked". They believe Mr Nestor may have been felled by a single punch.

One theory being investigated is that the attackers may have targeted Mr Nestor because he had only recently moved into the area from Liverpool.

Mr Nestor, who lives with his wife Jenny and teenage daughter Kirsty, was punched and then kicked on the ground after he answered the knock at the door at 4am on Sunday.

Police believe he went looking for his attackers before returning home. But the next day his wife was unable to rouse him when she discovered him on the settee in the living room.

Mr Nestor moved to Little Hulton from Liverpool only five weeks ago. His daughter Kirsty was set to start at Harrop Fold School this term.

Mr Nestor was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital before being transferred to Hope Hospital.

Mrs Nestor returned home from the hospital earlier today but said she was too upset to talk about her husband.

Det Insp Phil O'Toole, of Salford CID, said: "We would like to speak to anyone who was with this man in the hours leading up to his discovery, or who has information about how he came to be in this condition."

The house was cordoned off on Monday as forensic experts searched the area. Police also made house-to-house inquiries.

Neighbours spoke of their shock following the attack on the quiet street.

One woman said: "It was a real shock when everybody found out what had happened.

"Kevin was a nice bloke who was pleasant to me when I saw him out in the street. He was always very smartly dressed, but wasn't too well-known as he'd only recently moved into the area.

"There's been a growing number of serious attacks in Little Hulton over the last few months which is quite worrying."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Salford CID on 0161 856 5353 or Crimestoppers anonymously on free phone 0800 555 111.