A teenage boy is in hospital after being found with a severe slash wound to his face on a road in County Durham.
The 16-year-old was discovered lying on Maiden Law Bank near the Three Horse Shoes pub in Lanchester on Thursday.
He also suffered broken bones in one hand and bruising and was taken to University Hospital Durham where he will undergo surgery on Saturday.
The boy told police he was assaulted by a group of youths who pulled up in a car. They will talk to him again later.
Police said the road where he was found would have been busy and they want anyone who may have seen something to come forward.
Officers also want to speak to the passing motorist who helped the boy but left before speaking to them.
The teenager has managed to give officers a brief account of what happened but they have said they will need to speak to him again to find out more.
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