POLICE today appealed for witnesses after a 30-year-old man was dragged from a phone box and attacked.

The man drove up to the phone box near the swimming baths in Water Street, Great Harwood, at 10.20pm on Sunday in a blue car.

Three men dragged him out of the phone box. Two were armed with sticks which they used in the attack.

Detective Sergeant Joanne Lightbown said: "This was a totally unprovoked attack and was quite an ordeal for the man concerned. We are keen to trace the offenders.

"When they approached the phone box they were shouting lots of abuse. They reached into the phone box and dragged him out and started beating him up."

The attackers then got in his car and drove towards Park Road around 10.30pm. The car was later found damaged in Maple Street.

All the men are said to be in their 30s. The first was 6ft 2in tall with short blonde hair and clean shaven. He was wearing a royal blue shellsuit top. The second is said to be clean shaven, with dark brown hair, wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans. The third man was 5ft 10in tall, with brown hair and wearing a light coloured tracksuit top, and black jeans.

Anyone with more information should call 01254 353342.