Young Burnley dad hospitalised after assault in street

Oliver Sparkes (20) had been to Kitchen's service station in Trafalgar Street with a friend in the early hours of Monday morning when they were chased by a group of two or three men who then attacked him in a nearby street.

Oliver, who is originally from Northern Ireland, suffered a broken nose and was hospitalised with a suspected bleed on the brain following the attack.

His devastated girlfriend Megan-Ann Howard, who is expecting their child in May, said: "I think it's disgusting what these lads did to Oliver. Luckily, his injuries aren't as bad as first feared or it could have been a lot worse.

"What kinds of person thinks it's acceptable to hit someone with a brick, it's so shocking. Oliver is recovering well but he's very shaken up by his ordeal. Luckily, a passer-by came to his assistance and the lads ran off."

A police spokesman said: "We were called at just before 3-25am on Monday (February 24th) to the report that a man has been assaulted in the Keppel Place area of Burnley.

"It was reported to have happened around ten minutes previously when the victim, a 20-year-old man, was walking with a group of friends between Burnham Gate and Trafalgar Street when they were approached by two men making threats.

"There was an altercation, with the victim being punched and kicked to his body and face. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting log number 116 of February 24th."