TWO police officers were assaulted after being called to a house in Accrington where a man was being beaten with a baseball bat early today.

They were called to the home in Nuttall Street Mews at 6.20am after reports of shouting and screaming and found two men inside the flat beating up another man.

They used CS spray to restrain the attackers and two officers -- PC Steve Gallery and PC Angela Marsh -- were assaulted. Two men were arrested and a man was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Inspector Steve Haworth said the victim was badly beaten.

He said: "He was severely knocked about with a baseball bat and had a damaged head and leg. He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary for treatment.

"We are keeping an open mind about the attack."

He added that the two officers were not seriously injured. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I woke up and heard a knock on the man's door.

"There was a lot of shouting and screaming going on. The police went in and I saw them later taking two men away."

Two men, aged 27 and 34, both from Accrington, were today being interviewed by Accrington police.

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