ARMED intruders stabbed a man in the leg and back after bursting into his house and attacking him with a baseball bat.

Nicholas Warren, 41, who was set upon by the men at around 7am yesterday, fled with his girlfriend.

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Covered in blood he staggered to a nearby newsagents to take refuge.

Police said that two, possibly three, men, with one wearing a balaclava, forced their way into the couple’s home in Deardengate Croft, Haslingden, making demands for money.

He was then struck with a baseball bat and stabbed twice with a six-inch kitchen knife which had been in the house.

Officers said he suffered a stab wounds to the lower right of his back and left calf.

The offenders searched the house after the couple ran for safety but it is believed nothing was taken during the incident.

Mr Warren was helped by staff at Deardengate News and Convenience Store while his partner Sharon Thompson called the ambulance service.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he remained in a stable condition last night.

A member of staff at the newsagents, said: “My colleague Marcia was working at the time and she saw the man dripping with blood come in with his girlfriend. It went everywhere.

“He went to the back of the shop, before Sharon called an ambulance.

“I think he was just coming to somewhere safe.

“Everyone has been talking about what happened and I don’t think anything quite like this has happened around here before.”

Yvette Whelan, owner of Dearengate Dry Cleaners opposite the newsagents, said: “I live above the shop and I didn’t hear anything this morning.

“My son was in the newsagents at the time though because he has a paper round. It’s shocking.”

Matt Muhammed, owner of accountants Glenn J Wrighton & Co also in Deardengate, said: “I’m shocked that this has happened on our doorstep.

“It makes me worried because this isn’t the first time this has happened in this area.”

Police have described one of the men involved as white, 6ft 4ins, stocky build, wearing a black balaclava and dark clothing.

Another of the men was white, 38 to 40 years old, 6ft, of large build, blonde hair shaved at the sides, wearing a white or grey t-shirt, jeans and a light coloured hoodie. His face was not covered.

Det Sgt Alisa Wilson, of East CID, said: “I believe that this was an isolated, targeted attack and I am keen to trace the people involved.

“If anyone saw two or maybe three men area in the time leading up to the assault or afterwards, please get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference number 0232 of 11 August 2014.