RELATIVES of a man who suffered serious injuries in a nightclub attack will appeal to Bolton revellers for help tonight.

Samuel Smith was treated in the intensive care unit of the Royal Bolton Hospital following the attack at the Atlantis club last Saturday.

Father-of-two Mr Smith was only released from hospital late on Thursday and is still recovering from extensive cuts and bruises to his head, face and body.

Tonight his family will hand out 2,000 leaflets to pub and club-goers, urging anyone who witnessed the attack to come forward and contact police.

Mr Smith, aged 28, who runs his own cleaning business, said: "I'd only been in the club a few minutes when it happened.

"I was punched and kicked and jumped on and I know people must have seen it."

Bolton born Mr Smith now lives in Blackpool but he had been visiting family and friends in Bolton last weekend.

Detectives are investigating the incident at the nightclub in the Valley.

So far police have spoken to Mr Smith's friends but they are keen to hear from independent witnesses.

Mr Smith added: "My two boys have been really upset by all this. I'd never been in that club before and within minutes of going in I needed to be taken to hospital.

"I'm just hoping someone will decide to tell the police what they saw."

Detective Sergeant John Fellowes of Astley Bridge CID confirmed that the attack took place inside the club at around 11.45pm and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He added that the nightclub was co-operating with the police investigation. No one was available from Atlantis to comment.