A MOTHER has appealed for people to help catch the thugs who beat up her 15-year-old son with a cricket bat.

Her son, who wanted to remain anonymous, had attended a fair at Corporation Park with friends on Friday night and was standing in West Park Road when he was assaulted by three Asian men.

The teenager, from the Witton area of Blackburn, was attacked by one man with a cricket bat then kicked by two others as he lay on the ground.

He was taken to Blackburn Infirmary after the attack at 10.25pm and released five hours later with bruising and swelling to his head.

Police were called to the scene by a security guard at the park and are investigating the assault.

The boy's mother, Julie Jackson, said: "It was awful. I was shaking from head to toe when I heard what had happened and I couldn't get there quickly enough.

"I feel very angry that this has happened and am concerned it could happen to someone else.

"I could not believe that grown men could do that to a 15-year-old."

Her son says he was standing with friends when two BMWs pulled up and the occupants spoke to his girlfriend, who told them to go away.

A man got out of the blue vehicle and hit him with a cricket bat before two men got out of the green car and kicked him.

Ms Jackson, 37, said: "He could have been killed.

"It is unforgivable what they have done and they will do it again because they are obviously not bothered. If anyone knows who did this they must contact the police."

Police said the first man involved in the assault was described as 5ft 9in, 25, of medium build with short black hair, wearing dark clothes. A second man was 6ft 2in, 25, stocky, and wearing a light coloured top. A third was 5ft 9in, 21, with short dark hair wearing dark trousers and a red and white horizontal striped top.

Anyone with information should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.