Man beaten after challenging gang

£5,000 has been offered for information leading to a conviction.

A man was attacked by a gang of youths after he told them to stop vandalising a ticket machine at a railway station.

Sam McMurran, 59, suffered a fractured cheekbone, broken nose and split lip in the assault at Worle railway station, near Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it is investigating the incident which happened on 29 October.

Mr McMurran said he wanted the gang to answer for their crime and appealed for witnesses.

I'm speaking out because I want these thugs to be identified and arrested for their crime Sam Mc Murran

"This attack has not only left me physically injured, it has made me fearful and I should not have to feel this way in my own village," he said.

"I'm speaking out because I want these thugs to be identified and arrested for their crime.

"I don't want anyone else to be a victim of these people and I ask anyone who saw me being attacked or who has information that might help the investigation to contact police."

Det Con Richard Day described the assault as a "vicious and unprovoked attack" and said police were treating the incident very seriously.

First Great Western Trains has offered a reward of £5,000 for anyone who comes up with information that leads to conviction.