POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a road-rage incident in which a 31-year-old motorist and his elderly father were attacked by a group of four men.

The Nelson man was driving his car, in which his 63-year-old father was a passenger, along Leeds Road at 3.20pm on Monday.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital with severe bruising and needed stitches to his head and his father suffered bruising and facial injuries.

Police said the man, who does not want to be named for fear of repercussions, had slowed to a stop at the junction of Leeds Road with Chapel Street and was waiting to turn left into the street, which was blocked by two cars.

DC Ian Taylor said: "Parked on the left hand side of Chapel Street was a car and coming from the opposite direction was another vehicle and the people in the two cars appeared to be talking to each other. We believe the 31-year-old man pipped his horn to get them to move and four Asian males got out of a Suzuki Vitara, dragged the man out of his car and seriously injured him.

"The elderly man in the passenger seat got out of the vehicle when he saw his son being assaulted and he was also attacked.

"There is absolutely no suggestion that this is racially motivated. The victims are satisfied that this was effectively road rage because someone dared to pip their horn at them, which is horrendous."

A number of witnesses have come forward and six people have been arrested in connection with the attack and released on police bail.

Anyone who saw the incident or has information about it should contact DC Ian Taylor or DC Wendy Rimmer on 01282 472646.