A MAN who had his hand slashed in two in a Samurai sword attack has undergone a six-and-a-half-hour operation to save his hand.

Surgeons at the Royal Preston Hospital operated on the man in his 20s, on Wednesday, to repair the damage he sustained when he was set upon by a gang of around 12 men after they pulled up in three cars in Brougham Street, Burnley.

The attack, believed to be a family dispute, happened at around 2am on Tuesday, and split the left hand of the Asian male from between his fingers to his wrist after he tried to fend off the attackers.

Police inquiries are continuing into the incident.