A GREAT-GRANDFATHER was punched to the head and knocked unconscious in an attack outside his home.

George Bates, of Oswaldtwistle, had gone out to ask a woman — who was talking loudly and swearing on her mobile phone — to lower her voice.

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The 76-year-old said the next thing he knew, he was being hit over the head by a man and fell to the ground.

Mr Bates, a retired mechanic, said: “I was in quite a lot of pain and I am a bit nervous to go out now. It is not what you expect when you are in your 70s.”

The victim had been lying on his bed in Thwaites Road at around 6pm on January 3 when the loud talking began.

Mr Bates, who has two children and a granddaughter, said the noise had gone on for around half-an-hour when he went out to ask the woman to be quiet.

He said: “There was a young woman ranting and raving on her phone. She was using foul language. I thought it was outside my house — but when I went to the door, it was across the street.

“I went over and said ‘Do you mind?’ and that I had had enough. I told her I was going to ring the police. Just as I started to walk away, a man came round the corner and the next thing I know was I heard a whack.”

Mr Bates, who suffered bruising and swelling around his eyes, made his way back home. He did not report the incident to the police straight away — and it was not until his daughter, a nurse, visited him the next day and saw his injuries that officers were called.

Mr Bates said he was unable to describe what his attacker looked like because the incident happened so quickly.

Police have now launched an investigation to try to track down who was responsible.

PC Stuart King, of Blackburn police, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on an elderly man who has suffered a nasty injury to his face as a result. I appeal to anyone who may have seen the incident to contact us.

“I urge anybody who may have any information about the woman, who was on her phone for around 15 to 30 minutes in the area, to get in touch.”

Cllr Peter Britcliffe, who represents Oswaldtwistle on Hyndburn Council, said he was appalled to hear about the attack.

He said: “My thoughts go out to Mr Bates. It is a dreadful incident. If anybody knows anything, I hope they contact the police. Let us hope this person is brought to justice quickly because they are not the sort of person we want in Oswaldtwistle.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting crime-reference number ED1500197. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

A GREAT-GRANDFATHER was punched to the head and knocked unconscious in an attack outside of his home.

George Bates, from Oswaldtwistle, had gone out to ask a woman who was talking loudly and swearing on her mobile phone to lower her voice.

The 76-year-old said the next thing he knew, he was being hit over the head by a man and that he fell to the ground.

Mr Bates, a retired mechanic, said: “I was in quite a lot of pain and I am a bit nervous to go out now.

“It’s just not what you expect when you are in your 70s.”

The victim had been lying on his bed in Thwaites Road at around 6pm on January 3 when the loud talking began.

Mr Bates, who also has two children and a granddaughter, said the noise had gone on for around half an hour when he went out to ask her to be quiet.

He said: “There was a young woman ranting and raving on her phone using foul language.

“I thought it was outside my house, but when I went to the door, I it was across the street.

“I went over and said ‘do you mind?’ and that I had had enough.

“Then I told her I was going to ring the police. Just as I started to walk away, a man came round the corner and the next thing I know was I heard a ‘whack’.”

Mr Bates, who suffered painful bruising and swelling around his eyes, managed to pick himself up and make his way back into the house.

He did not report the incident to the police straight away and it was not until his daughter, who is a nurse, visited her dad the next day and saw his injuries that officers were called.

Mr Bates said he was unable to describe what his attacker looked like because the incident happened so quickly.

Police have now launched an investigation to try to track down who was responsible.

PC Stuart King of Blackburn Police said: “This was an unprovoked attack on an elderly man who has sustained a nasty injury to his face as a result.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the incident to contact us.

“I would also urge anybody who may have any information about the woman who was on her phone for around 15 to 30 minutes in the area I would urge them to get in touch.”

Coun Peter Britcliffe, who represents Oswaldtwistle on Hyndburn Council, said he was appalled to hear about the attack.

He said: “My thoughts go out to Mr Bates. It really is a dreadful incident.

“If anybody knows anything, then certainly I would hope they contact the people.

“Let’s hope this person is brought to justice quickly because they are not the sort of person we really want in Oswaldtwistle.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting crime reference number ED1500197.

Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org