TWO young thugs attacked a man in his own home before stealing cash that he had been collecting for his local church.

John Lewis, who lives in Cheltenham Road, Blackburn, suffered a black eye after he was punched twice.

His attackers sneaked into his home after knocking on the door and saying that a ball had been kicked into his back garden.

The men, described as Asian and in their early 20s, then entered his house before confronting him.

Mr Lewis was threatened before he was attacked.

He then handed over £70 in cash which he had been saving for his local church, St Silas C of E, Preston New Road.

Mr Lewis, 64, a maths private tutor, said he was writing his daughter a letter when the two men burst into his living room.

He said: "I was grabbed from behind by one of them and hoisted onto my feet.

"The other then punched me in the right eye before punching me again on the left side of my face.

"He immediately blinded me with the punch.

"They were demanding money from me.

"He had hit me so hard that it was obvious that if I didn't find any money they would beat me up.

"I told them that there was money for the church upstairs, which they took before searching the rest of the house and then running off."

He has now been told to rest in bed for three days.

He is wearing an eye patch over his right eye and he has been told that the injuries should heal fully. The incident happened around 7.20pm on Wednesday.

Det Sgt Julie Peter said: "This was a nasty and unprovoked attack and we are treating it very seriously.

"Mr Lewis was punched twice in the face and has a nasty injury.

"Potentially this could have been even more serious."

Anyone with any information about the attack is asked to call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.