AN uncle was punched and kicked to the ground after going to the aid of his niece.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Sean McKay's eight-year-old son and other young children screamed in terror as he was attacked by a group of five or six young men.

The trouble began after McKay, aged 35, took the children to a shop to buy sweets.

While he stayed with some of the children outside, his niece, Katie McKay and others in the group went inside Victoria Wine in Little Lever.

Nigel Boone, prosecuting, said that Mr McKay spotted a gang of five or six young men verbally abusing Katie.

They had surrounded her and appeared to be pushing her and he went over to try and calm things down. But one of the youths objected to his involvement and the gang attacked him.

Joe Hughes, aged 22, of Hamilton Court, Little Lever, Daniel Watson, aged 20, of Victory Road, Little Lever, and Christopher Beck, aged 20, of Bowness Road, Little Lever, are all jointly accused of assaulting Sean McKay occasioning him actual bodily harm. Beck is also charged with assaulting Katie McKay.

They deny all the charges.

Mr McKay told the court how he was pushed against shop shutters and then fell to the ground after being hit several times. He was then kicked while on the ground. Katie rushed to his aid but Beck allegedly grabbed her and threw her to the floor causing minor injuries.

Mr McKay said all he could hear was his eight year-old son screaming and the attack only stopped when his brother and two other men appeared.

The gang ran off and he was left with blood pouring from a wound in his head and lumps and bruises on his body.

(Proceeding)