A FATHER and his son are appealing for witnesses after being attacked and beaten unconscious after a night out in Burnley.

Peter Waddington, 52, and his son Simon, 31, had been out in the town centre for a post-Christmas celebration and went to Hammerton Street to get a taxi at about 11.50pm.

Simon, a service engineer with Phillips, of Priory Court, Burnley, said they were attacked by a group of men as they walked close to Chicago Rock Cafe.

Simon's step-brother Paul Connel, 21, was also in Hammerton Street and came over to see what was going on. Simon claimed he was hit in the face.

PC Lisa Smith, of Burnley Police, confirmed a complaint had been made.

She said: "At this stage we are reviewing CCTV from the area. Arrests are imminent but we are appealing for any witnesses to contact myself at Burnley police station.

"This was a very serious assault."

Simon said four men attacked his father outside Brunlea Travel, kicking and punching him and hitting him with an extending cosh.

He said: "I tried to run to stop them but two more grabbed me and I was knocked unconscious and woke up in the accident and emergency department of Burnley General Hospital."

Simon, who has two daughters aged five and seven, suffered a gash to the back of his head believed to be a cut from a bottle, sore ribs and bruising to both arms in the attack on Thursday night.

Peter, a grandfather of three who works at Tenaco Walker, received a broken nose, cracked ribs, extensive bruising, cuts and abrasions.

He said he may be off work for weeks and has hardly eaten since the incident.

Simon said: "There were people in the area at the time and I am appealing for them to come forward and tell the police what they saw.

"We were not going out looking for trouble.

"It has put me off going out in Burnley at night."

Peter did not want to speak about the incident but his wife Christine said: "I am appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed the attack on my husband and step-son to come forward.

"My husband is a very quiet, placid sort of man and not someone who would get involved in a fight.

"We are desperate for anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident to contact the police and tell them what they know."

Today duty manager at Chicago Rock Cafe Gary Simpson said: "I can't make any comment."