Man seriously hurt in gang attack

The victim was surrounded by the gang and punched in the face

A man is in a critical condition after being attacked by a gang of teenagers in Greater Manchester.

David Burns, 26, was walking home with two friends near Lees Park Way in Droylsden on Sunday night when a group shouted abuse.

Mr Burns went to a house on Langfield Crescent but when he went out later to see if the gang was still there, he was surrounded and punched in the face.

He was knocked unconscious and is in hospital in a serious condition.

Greater Manchester Police said there was initially a gang of about six boys on Jack Lane, off Lees Park Way.

They were later joined by several older teenagers.

He's a really nice lad who was coming here now for a few years and he's never been any bother Sharon Cullen, pub landlord

After hearing that the youths had been causing problems on Langfield Crescent, the victim's two friends went outside to see if they were still there.

Mr Burns followed a short time later, but he became separated from his friends and was surrounded by about eight youths at the junction of Malvern Avenue and Langfield Crescent.

One of them punched him in the face and he fell to the ground and banged his head.

The offenders then ran off towards Warne Avenue.

Mr Burns was taken to Tameside General Hospital and was later transferred to Hope Hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he remains in a critical condition.

He had earlier been drinking in the Strawberry Gardens pub shortly before the attack, where Ricky Hatton also dropped in to celebrate Manchester City's win over Manchester United.

Sharon Cullen, acting landlord, said Mr Burns had been in the pub most of the afternoon watching the match on television.

"I'm not sure what time he left the pub because we were that busy and it was fairly hectic inside as Ricky dropped in after the match and everybody was queuing up to get pictures with him.

"It's awful news. He's a really nice lad who was coming here now for a few years and he's never been any bother," she added.

Miss Cullen said there was no trouble inside the pub on Sunday night but confirmed the area had problems with youngsters hanging around the streets.

Hooded jacket

Three of the offenders are described as white and aged about 17.

One of them was about 6ft, slim and was wearing a brown hooded top and riding a bike.

A second offender is described as being slim with a thin face and was wearing a grey hooded zip-up jacket with the hood up.

A third offender is described as being of stocky build with a shaven head and was wearing a black tracksuit.

Police are appealing for any of the gang members to come forward.