A MAN has spoken of the "terrifying" moment when he was subjected to an "unprovoked" attack after visiting a bowling alley.

Mohammed Nadeen, 28, lost a tooth in the assault as well as suffering a black eye and extensive bruising.

He said he was punched and kicked as well as hit with glass beer bottles.

Mr Nadeen was with friends Zahid Butt, 32, and Wasim Ali, 17, playing pool at the Vue Cinema complex off Lower Audley Street in Blackburn on Monday night.

After leaving at 10pm the trio were approached by a group of around 20 men, aged between 17 and 25.

Mr Nadeen, of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, said the group surrounded him and his friends before assaulting them at the roadside.

The married father-of-one said: "It all came out of nowhere. I recognised one of the group and they must have known me because they were shouting at me go back to Accrington'.

"It was terrifying. The three of us are not troublemakers, we just wanted to go and play pool.

"All of us took a beating. They kept knocking us down and would not let us get up. They were really nasty. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"They surrounded us in a circle. I was punched repeatedly in the head and I'm covered in bruises. They were even using beer bottles to hit us."

Mr Butt and Mr Ali do not speak very good English, but Mr Butt's brother Ayaz Butt, 33, of Primrose Street, Accrington, said he had been shocked at what had happened to his brother and friends.

He said: "It was a really serious attack. They are all family men and never get in trouble.

"I hope they catch the people responsible."

Mr Nadeen, a warehouse worker for Holland's Pies in Baxenden, said the attack had left him wary of going out.

Blackburn police have confirmed that they are investigating the assaults.