A TEENAGER who has been scarred for life after his face and neck were slashed has appealed for anyone who knows who carried out the attack to contact the police.

David Ticehurst was with his friend Darren Mounsey, both 17, when the pair were jumped on by two men in a dark footpath off Bacup town centre and slashed about the face and neck with what is believed to have been a razor blade

David suffered horrific injuries and had to have 47 stitches in both cheeks, a deep cut to his neck and another to his forehead.

Darren had his throat slashed and was kicked and thumped about the head.

They had been in Blackthorn to see David's girlfriend and were walking home at about 10.30pm on Tuesday on an overgrown footpath leading from Rochdale Road at the back of the library and the health centre towards Hammerton Green.

Both were taken to Rochdale Infirmary where Darren is still be treated after having several hours surgery to the wound in his neck.

David, of Pennine Road, Bacup, said: "It was pitch black.

You couldn't see anything. I heard Darren shout and then I felt a lot of pain and in my face and I realised I was bleeding. "I went to check if Darren was OK and he was all bleeding and stuff so I just ran into Bacup centre to try to get some help.

"I went into the kebab shop and someone rang for the police and an ambulance. There was a lot of blood.

"I didn't see anybody in the area at all they just came from nowhere. It was all over too quick."

David, who is 5ft 7ins, said the attack was carried out by two men who were taller than him.

He was hoping to see Darren in hospital yesterday,

David's mum Carol Talbot a mother-of-six said David's wounds were not jagged but clean slits and she believes they could have been made by a razor blade. She said: "Anyone who saw anything must come forward and tell the police. I don't know of anyone in Bacup who would do this sort of thing. These lads both look young for their age."

Both David and Darren used to attend Fearns High School, Stacksteads, and are now doing odd jobs while they decide what job to go for.

Darren spent the early hours of Wednesday in the operating theatre. His father Jim, of Regent Street, Bacup, said: "He is a little bit better and he has just started to talk. There are some signs of improvement.

"He is still like in a bit of a daze and still doesn't know a lot about what happened." Det Sgt Mick Collins said: "This is a vicious attack, it is a sinister action and one that the people of Bacup should be very concerned about and rightly shocked by but there are people out there who know the identity of these attackers and it is imperative that they identify them to us.

"Any information that is given to the police will be treated in the strictest confidence. People giving information do not have to give their names but we need to know why this attack took place and who committed this attack.

"According to the one lad we have been able to speak to it was totally unprovoked and if anyone knows a reason for it they should contact us."

He appealed for anyone with information to speak to him directly on 01706 237641 or call Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555 111.