A FATHER-of-three is fighting for life after he had his head stamped on outside a Colne church.

Paving contractor Edward Geddes, 29, was left covered in blood after being attacked by a gang of four outside St Bartholomew's Church in the early hours of Sunday.

Eyewitnesses say his head was repeatedly stamped upon by the gang, who are believed to have been thrown out of a party just minutes earlier.

Last night Mr Geddes' brother David said he had been told by doctors that his brother's chance of survival were 50-50'.

He was taken to the intensive care unit at Airedale Hospital in Steeton after the attack, suffering from a fractured nose and severe facial swelling.

He had swelling to the brain after receiving several kicks to the head.

While initially his condition improved slightly, and he was moved out of the specialist unit, the outlook is now more serious.

Mr Geddes said his brother, who has had breathing difficulties and contracted pneumonia, was now in a "critical" condition.

Doctors had placed Edward, whose blood pressure has also dropped significantly, into an induced coma while they monitor his progress.

The family, including the victim's partner, Donna Kellett, have been inundated with calls from anxious family and friends.

l Police have charged a Colne man with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and are still questioning two other men about the incident.