WAITING patiently for a taxi and minding his own business at Lancaster Bus Station last Friday afternoon dad Nigel McGuire didn't even notice the three men nearby.

A moment later one of them clouted him on the back of the head while another held him in a bear hug. A third bit half his ear off.

Nigel remembered: "I didn't know anything was wrong until I felt this punch on the back of my head. It was totally unprovoked. They didn't say a word.

"One booted me in the jaw. Another held me so his friend could bite into my ear. I was groggy from the punch to my head. I was very shocked."

Nigel, 28, can't recall the exact sequence of events after the attack between 4pm and 5pm. He staggered around with blood pouring from his ear until two friends saw him and took him to the RLI. He was treated there and has to return to Preston Royal Hospital on Friday for the bandage to be removed. He has been unable to return to his job at a factory as a processor.

"I just can't believe this has happened," said Nigel who had a nine-year-old daughter. "I think they may have been drunk but I just can't believe that it happened in the middle of the day. I can't be sure how bad my ear is. They can't really give me any information until they take off the bandage. I can't remember everything because of the blow to my head and the shock. I remember people were trying to help after it happened but at the time there wasn't many people around really. It was the sheer shock of it that I remember most."

One of the thugs was described as being in his early 30s, 6 feet, stocky with short black hair. He was wearing a white long sleeved shirt and blue jeans. The other two were both about 5ft 10in and aged between 20 and 30. Anyone with any information is urged to call the police on 63333.

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