A FATHER-of-two was beaten and pushed to the ground as he popped to his local shop for a can of beer.

Keith Killaway stepped out of the store in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, when he was attacked by a youth.

He was left with both shoulders dislocated and spent two days in Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he underwent surgery.

An employee at the town's Boxstar Broadleys, he has now been signed off work for four weeks and is to undergo physiotherapy.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Clayton with his wife Sharon, 44, and their children, Scott, 16, and Lauren, 13, told the Observer: "It happened so quickly; it was over and done with in a minute.

"Sharon had just made a meal and we were waiting for a film to come on, so I said I would go and get a can of beer from the shop.

"As I went in there were three lads coming out. One of them looked at me but I didn't really take any notice of them.

"When I came out, one of the lads was drinking from a bottle and, as I walked past, I felt some liquid on my back. I turned round and said: 'What the hell do you think you are doing?'. I didn't shout or anything. Straightaway his facial expression changed and he became aggressive.

"The next thing I knew, I was lying in the gutter. I heard the two lads he was with shout for him to stop. I got up and one of them handed me my cigarettes and glasses

"I walked home and when I got back I was in such agony my family rang an ambulance that rushed me to hospital."

Police are appealing for three men captured on CCTV shortly before the attack, just after 9pm on Sunday, to come forward with information.

Detective Sergeant Joanne Lightbown, from Great Har-wood Police, said: "This man was nipping out on what should have been a two-minute trip to the local store.

"We think he may have been kicked and punched to the ground and we would like anyone who saw the incident to come forward.

"We believe the men seen on CCTV footage may have witnessed the attack and we are appealing to them to contact us.''

Anyone with information can contact the police on 353334 or ring the free and confidential Crimestoppers service on 0800 555 111.