A FATHER-of-two is fighting for his life after being attacked in the street on his way home from the pub.

Stuart Crump, aged 34, of St Augustine Street, Halliwell, was walking home with friends in Halliwell Road when the attack happened.

He has never regained consciousness following the incident 12 days ago.

His two children, Darcy, aged five, and Ashleigh, aged seven, his parents, his two brothers and his sister are all keeping a bedside vigil at Hope Hospital's intensive care neurological unit in Salford.

His brother Wayne, aged 32, of Astley Bridge, said: "He wasn't even going to go out. He had an abcess on his tooth but his friends phoned him up saying there was a karaoke night.

"It happened when the was walking back from the pub with his five friends.

"He has never regained consciousness and we have been told there is nothing that can be done. He was put on a course of sedatives to make him sleep so the brain would repair itself. He came off the sedatives last Thursday and we have been told he's not going to wake up.

"Even if he did wake up he would have severe brain damage. We have been told he'll just get infection after infection. We don't know if he's got days or months."

Mr Crump's parents, Carole and Richard, cancelled their 40th wedding anniversary celebrations to be at their son's bedside.

His brother added: "My mum and dad have stayed with him all the time and are devastated. His children have been to see him.

"His eldest, Ashleigh, is handicapped so she doesn't understand and Darcy is too young. They say children only see a person sleeping, rather than all the machines around them."

A man was due to appear before Bolton Magistrates Court today facing assault charges.