A FATHER-OF-TWO was "lucky to be alive" today after being stabbed four times on the doorstep of his house early today.

Mark Winstanley, 28, of Gillibrand Street, Darwen, was due to undergo surgery at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, with doctors unsure of whether he will be permanently scarred.

Police said the attack appeared to be unprovoked and urged anybody with information to contact them.

Mr Winstanley's father Ray said his son had gone out into the street at around 2am today after hearing a man call for help.

When he realised nobody needed help, he asked the man, who had a dog with him, to be quiet because his two young children -- aged two years and five weeks -- were asleep.

As he returned to walk back into his house, the man attacked him, stabbing him in the back, chest, side and arm.

Doctors were today due to open up the wound on Mr Winstanley's arm to see if any permanent damage had been done.

The scene of the stabbing was cordoned off and police were due to carry out house-to-house inquiries.

Mark's brother, Lee, said: "The doctors have told us he is lucky to be alive. Had the wound in his front been a couple of inches either way, it could have hit his heart, spleen or lung.

"This was totally unprovoked. What worries us now is that this man is still on the loose. He could do it again."

Mr Winstanley's wife Andrea, has now taken the couple's children's to his parents' homes in Prunella Drive, off Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen.

His father, Ray, said: "As he walked back to the house he felt something in his back. He turned round, was hit again. It was only when he was on the floor he realised he had been stabbed. "He had real difficulty breathing on the way to hospital. It could have been life-threatening. He should be OK now, but we don't know if any long-term damage has been done to his arm.

"It is so worrying that there are people like this out there."

A spokesman for Blackburn Royal Infirmary,, said he was 'comfortable' and that his condition was no longer 'life threatening.' The spokesman said Mark was due to be operated on today to find out the extent of his injuries.

Det Sgt Paul Broxson of Blackburn CID confirmed they were investigating the incident and that, as this stage, it appeared unprovoked.

He said: "This man is lucky to be alive as a result of this motiveless attack."

The attacker is described as white, with a local accent, in his mid-20s, 5ft 7ins to 5ft 9ins, with brown hair and wearing a light-coloured polo top and a green, waist-length, zip-up jacket. He had a small, stocky, brown bull-terrier type dog.

Anyone with information can ring police on 01254 51212.