A MAN was attacked with hammers in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter.

Detectives have appealed for witnesses following the incident in which the 29-year-old man suffered a fractured cheekbone and cuts to his head.

Police said the vicious assault took place in Accrington on New Year’s Eve and one local councillors described it as "unnerving" while another hit out a lack of police presence in Hyndburn.

At 7.20pm two Asian men pulled up alongside a house in Edleston Street and attacked the victim with hammers.

The victim then ran off and the attackers then went to his car and smashed two windows and the windscreen.

His wife and a child were inside the car at the time but were not injured.

No arrests have been made.

Det Con Sarah Whittaker said: “This was a vicious assault which has resulted in a man receiving a number of injuries including a laceration to his head, a fractured cheekbone along with other injuries to his face and body.

“All of this was in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter.

“We think that the offenders have travelled to the area in a dark Audi. If you think you saw the vehicle before the incident, the assault itself or indeed you have any information about it at all, please make contact with us.”

Hyndburn Central councillor, Mohammad Ayub said: “This is a really unnerving incident, not just in terms of how the victims were attacked but because there was a three-year-old child present.

“This is a huge shock for me as it makes me think about what on earth is going on in our community. I hope the police are able to find the attackers and hope they take serious action against them so that people can feel safe.

“I’ve never heard of anything like this before and I hope officers will keep an eye on the area and if anyone feels unsafe they should call the police.

“My thoughts are with the victims of this horrible attack and I hope nothing like this happens again.”

Cllr June Harrison said: “Assaults are happening in every area in this borough and it’s due to a shortage of police, proving that we desperately need more police funding from the government.”

Anyone with information can call 01254 353868 or 101, quoting reference 1128 of December 31.