FIVE teenagers have been charged with assault after a couple were beaten unconscious in a skate park in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 21-year-old man and his 20 year-old girlfriend, found in the skate park, in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, were so badly beaten police had difficulty establishing their sex.

Police said the couple may have been attacked around 1am on Saturday because they wore 'gothic clothing'.

Five youths, aged 15 to 17 from the Rossendale Valley, have been charged with assault and are due to appear at Burnley Magistrates today.

The couple, who remain unconscious in specialist care units in hospitals in Manchester, were left with with serious head injuries and swollen faces.

Their condition is said to be serious but stable.

Detective Inspector Dean Holden said: "We have charged five males aged 15-17 with section 18 assault and they will be appearing at Burnley Magistrates today."