A MAN suffered a fractured skull when he fell to the ground after a skinhead punched him in the face.

The 23-year-old had just walked out of Quenchers off-licence on Halliwell Road, Bolton, when the attacker struck him after he refused to give him a cigarette. The man was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and was allowed home after treatment.

Detective Constable Paul Swindells, of Astley Bridge CID, appealed for witnesses to the attack, which happened at 10pm on Friday night.

He said: "This appears to be an unprovoked attack and the consequences could have been much worse. We would like anyone who was in the area at the time to contact us."

The attacker is described as white, in his early 20s, 6ft tall and of large build. He had a skinhead haircut and was wearing a white coloured jumper and spoke with a Bolton accent.

Anyone with information should call Det Con Swindells on 0161 856 5752.