A 36-YEAR-OLD man was attacked by a man impersonating a police officer.

The victim had been walking down New Bank Road, Blackburn, in the early hours of Friday morning when he was approached by a man claiming to be a policeman.

Police said the attacker said to his victim that he was a police officer and there had been some crime in the area.

The 36-year-old asked his attacker for ID to prove his identity and he was assaulted.

The attacker also had a boxer dog with him which he set on to the 36-year-old.

He received minor injuries.

The attacker was then seen making off towards Lynwood Road, Blackburn, in a Black Nissan car with another man inside the vehicle Detective Constable Mark Cruise said: "All unprovoked attacks on members of the public are treated seriously by the police and will be investigated accordingly as will this."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Meanwhile, police have arrested a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old man on suspicion of impersonating a police officer, having a dog dangerously out of control in public and actual bodily harm. They were released on bail.