A 16-YEAR-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a teenager was attacked in his bedroom.

The 17-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull.

Police said the victim was in bed in Sparth Road, Clayton-le-Moors, when another youngster went into his room and beat him ‘multiple times’ about the head.

Officers said a hammer had been used in the attack at 1.20am yesterday. Last night, the 17-year-old was at Royal Preston Hospital where he was due to undergo explorative and corrective surgery for his head injury.

His condition was described as serious but not life-threatening at this stage.

The 16-year-old boy, who was being questioned last night, lives at the same address as the injured teenager, police said.

Det Insp Mark Vaughton, from Lancashire Police's eastern division CID, said: "I would like to stress that the youth who has been arrested lives at the same address and that this was not a random assault.

"The victim has sustained a serious attack and while his injuries are serious, they are fortunately not life-threatening at this stage and he is conscious.

"His head injuries are consistent with a fractured skull and he will require some corrective surgery.

"A swift response by police led to the early arrest of a 16-year-old-boy and he was in police custody last night."