A MAN suffered a fractured jaw after being attacked by up to five men armed with a weapon in his Darwen home, police said.

The attack is said to have happened during an aggravated burglary at a house in Gordon Street.

The 32-year-old victim suffered a broken nose during the attack which happened between 3am and 4am on Saturday, officers said.

A second male victim, who is 31, suffered cuts and bruises in the attack.

A 45-year-old man and a 31-year-old man, who are both from Darwen, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary on Saturday but they have now been released on bail.

Detectives said between four and five men, believed to be white, forced the front door of the house, threatened the two men and started punching and kicking them.

Police said a metal bat or bar could have been used in the attack.

The attackers left the house with around £30 in cash.

After the attack, the gang are believed to have attempted an escape in a white Ford Transit van, which detectives found abandoned on a grass verge in nearby Chapels Brow, before running off back towards Gordon Street.

The van has been taken away for forensic investigations.

Detective Sergeant Adrian McHugh, of Blackburn CID, said: “At the end of Gordon Street there is a sloped grass area and in the middle of this grass area there was an abandoned white Ford Transit van.

“I believe there is a connection between that white van and the people responsible for the aggravated burglary.

“I believe these men may have tried to escape in this van but were unable to get it off the grass verge.

“They have then headed back towards Gordon Street on foot.

“I would like to speak to anyone who saw people with this van.

“They must have been there for a few minutes because you can see just from the tyre marks how badly stuck it was.”

Anybody with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.