A MAN attacked by two thugs wielding an iron bar and a piece of wood said: "I could have been killed."

Father-of-three Mark Farrow was ambushed and repeatedly hit by the thugs as he walked home after a night out with friends.

Mr Farrow, of Leverhulme Avenue, Great Lever, was left unconscious and bleeding on the pavement.

Detectives have condemned the brutality of the attack in which Mr Farrow suffered a broken leg and foot, a badly bruised arm and shoulder, a fractured collar bone and a head wound which needed 14 stitches. The attack happened at the weekend as Mr Farrow was walking along Rowena Avenue, less than 800 yards from his home.

Police said the attack appeared to be motiveless although Mr Farrow's watch and a small amount of change was stolen from his pocket.

Mr Farrow, a match steward at the Reebok Stadium, was so badly beaten he cannot remember anything about the attack.

He said: "I can recall leaving the pub on my own. The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital. I could not tell any of the medical staff who I was or where I had been.

"I do not even know who found me. I just do not know what happened."

He condemned his attackers adding: "These people are animals. They need to be taken off the street. I could have been killed."

His partner Alaina Fazakerley, aged 53, added: "I knew something was wrong when he did not come home. I got a phone call in the morning to say that he was in hospital.

"When I saw him I could not believe my eyes. He looked awful. I was not prepared for what I saw."

Det Insp Andy Aston, of Bolton CID, said the attack was vicious and motiveless.

He added: "We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police.

Mr Farrow was detained in hospital for three days. He is now recovering at home.

Both his attackers, who struck at 1.15am last Saturday, are said to be white. One is 6ft 2ins and in his early 20s. He was wearing black tracksuit trousers with white stripes down the side and a baseball cap. The second man was also wearing baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bolton CID on 0161 856 5640 or Crimestoppers, freephone 0800 555 111.