The Evening Leader reported on Friday that a man was attacked near the Total petrol station on Hoole Road, Hoole, shortly after 12am on December 30.

The victim, Daniel Johnston, 31, required hospital treatment following the assault and has been left so shaken he is now staying with friends to recuperate.

Mr Johnston, from Hoole, was attacked while walking home with his girlfriend after attending a family party at the Royal Mail Club on City Road. The couple stopped off at the garage to buy cigarettes and as they were leaving the forecourt, he was attacked by four men.

"The men followed us from The Flookersbrook pub by Hoole bridge," he said.

"As I was buying cigarettes from the garage one of them started saying 'Do you want a fight?' I said 'I don't want any trouble mate.'

"Then as we were leaving the forecourt they all approached me. They jumped on me and started kicking me in the head. My head was kicked like a football and the doctors said it looked like I had been in a car crash.

"One of them had me in a head lock on the floor and was saying 'Go on, do it now, kick him now.' My girlfriend was screaming and trying to get them off but every time she pulled one away, another one would kick me.

"As I tried to scramble my way out, a taxi driver opened his door to help me but they slammed the door, grabbed my head and smashed it against the window. I thought they were going to finish me off."

The attack stopped when a patrolling police car drove past and officers witnessed the scene.

Mr Johnston was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital by ambulance and treated for head injuries. His girlfriend was also left with bruises on her arms after trying to fend off the assailants.

Cheshire Constabulary Spokesman, Glyn Hellam, said there were several witnesses to the incident. Two men and a youth have been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.