A 24-year-old man was severely battered in an "horrendous" attack as he walked home from a night out.

A pair of thugs punched, kicked and stamped on the victim's head as he walked to a friend's house after a night out in Bury.

Two men approached the victim's friend and asked him for a light.

The pair started to punch the friend when he said he did not have a light and then set about the 24-year-old man when he challenged the attacker.

He was punched to the ground before the pair continued their attack as he lay helpless.

At one point, one of the attackers is described as running and jumping "two-footed" on to the victim's head.

The offenders then ran away with three men who witnessed, but took no part in, the assault.

The assault happened on Trimingham Drive, Brandlesholme, Bury, early on Saturday morning.

Det Con Tony Hope, from Whitefield CID, said: "This was an horrendous attack and one that we, or the victim, can see no motivation for.

"The man was kicked and punched and at one point an offender ran and jumped two-footed onto his head - it is lucky we are not talking about a more serious offence."

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his head, as well as severe swelling.

He was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, where he spent two nights under observation before being discharged.

The victim, whose name has not yet been released by police, lived in Bury before moving to Scotland and had been out with friends he was visiting for the weekend.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8150 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.