A GRANDAD had his head split open in a terrifying attack when he tried to stop a mob of teenagers smashing up his neighbour's home.

Stephen Taylor, 49, rushed from his house in Norfolk Grove, Church, where 50 youngsters, some from Moor-head High School, were fighting with weapons in what he described as a long-running racial feud.

He said: "It was getting out of hand, really boiling over, so I told them to stop but they surrounded me. Then I felt an almighty whack on my head and as I fell down something hit me in the face. A neighbour later told me it was a padlock on a swinging chain.

"Someone shouted: 'Leave him, he's an old man' but they wouldn't have done if they hadn't seen the blood. It was pouring out of me. I thought I'd been stabbed.

"It was horrible. I could hear a woman screaming and see kids throwing paving flags at each other. I wouldn't get involved again."

Mr Taylor, who is married to Jacqueline, 42, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was treated for concussion and given stitches.

Mr Andrew Bateman, headteacher at Moorhead - which on occasion searches pupils for weapons - accepted some of his students might have been involved in the mass brawl.

He said: "I don't know what influenced the situation but we do know the incident was related to some older Asian youths who were hanging around the estate.

"Pupils from other schools and the college were also apparently involved.

"Anything affecting the safety and welfare of my pupils is a major concern. But it's not really a school issue but a community issue, and it's a great shame Moorhead's name has been dragged into this."

Sergeant Mark Porter, of Accrington Police, said three youths aged 15, 17 and 18 and a girl of 15 were arrested and released on police bail.

He said: "Since last Friday's incident we have been working with the community to reassure people."

But Mr Taylor's sister Theresa, 39, who lives next door to him, appealed for council help to improve the estate.

She said: "We have CCTV here because it's so dangerous. It's really gone downhill. It took me more than four years to get my house but now the council gets residents into Norfolk Grove within a fortnight.

"Something's got to be done. Stephen's injuries could have been much worse. He could have been killed."