Shop owner targeted by knife gang

A shop owner has been stabbed and had the top of his ear sliced off when he was targeted by a gang in Manchester.

The 37-year-old was dragged from his car, parked at Chelsfield Grove, Chorlton cum Hardy, by three men as he left work at 2330 GMT on Saturday.

The gang slashed the man across the face with a knife, stabbed him twice, cut the top of his ear off and hit him over the back of a head.

The men took the man's mobile phone and ran off towards Mauldeth Road West.

Det Cons Chris McDonald, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "As the victim is a local shop owner, we believe the offenders thought he would have money on him and had lain in wait for him to return.

"He was subjected to an extremely violent assault and suffered some nasty injuries, including stab wounds to his leg and permanent damage to his ear."

The man was taken to hospital and released after treatment.

The attackers were white, aged 18 to 20 and were wearing dark clothing. One of them had a very pale complexion and blonde or light ginger hair.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.