A MAN was left with severe head injuries after being attacked in a Haslingden street.

The 33-year-old was walking in Hall Street when he was hit over the head with a wooden truncheon around 9.15pm on Wednesday, police said.

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He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after being repeatedly struck in the attack, which police believed was targeted. Medics had to staple cuts on his head.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We are investigating the circumstances of this assault. We do not believe this was a random attack. No arrests have been made. I urge anyone with information about the attack to contact police.”

The assault happened outside a house off Manchester Road, which has a community centre, and bungalows.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said an ambulance was called, but cancelled after the man said he would drive himself to hospital.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported earlier this week how more people fell victim to violent crime in East Lancashire last year.

Across the region, ‘violence against the person’ offences – such as attempted murder, assault, and neglect – rocketed by an average of 9.5 per cent from 2012/13 to 2013/14.

Every town in East Lancashire recorded a rise of up to 14 per cent, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed.

Police appealed for anyone with information about the incident to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.