A MAN was viciously beaten with a two-foot scaffolding pole in an unprovoked attack in Burnley.

Victim Jamie Ormonde tried to escape from the sustained beating, on the railway bridge between Burnham Gate and Piccadilly Road.

But his attacker calmly carried on swinging the bar, causing Jamie’s ear to be ripped in half and leaving him battered and bruised.

Police are appealing for witnesses attack, which occurred at around 8.30pm on Wednesday, as the 21-year-old was walking home from McDonald’s restaurant off Trafalgar Street.

Jamie, of Piccadilly Road, aaid his attacker had been standing in front of him in the McDonald’s queue and had given him a “nasty look”.

He left the restaurant, heading towards the railway bridge, which leads to Albion Street and Piccadilly Road.

He said he noticed a black Vauxhall Corsa drive slowly past, despite there being no other traffic on the road.

The attack on the bridge moments later came without warning.

Jamie said: “The lad came up behind me and hit me once on the back of the head, and I felt all the blood rushing down my face.

"He cut my ear, basically in half – I had to have 15 stitches – then he hit me at least another three times before I scrambled up and tried to run off.

“But I slipped and he hit me a few more times, and follow edit up with a few punches to my body, which bruised my ribs.

“After the second attack I managed to scarper. I was trying to save my life basically.”

He ran to the nearby home of his sister, Joanne Ormonde.

Added Jamie: “I can’t even think of any reason why anyone would want to beat me up.”

He says his attacker was in his early 20s, about 5ft 9in tall, skinny to medium build, with black or brown hair.

The thug wore a light brown or copper top, black jeans or tracksuit bottoms and brown Lacoste trainers.

PC Chris Hutchinson, of Burnley police, said: “This is quite a nasty attack which has left the lad covered in cuts and bruises.”