A PENSIONER who was attacked by a gang of youths as he walked home from the supermarket is said to have been followed and abused by them for months.

Police in Darlington said the 66-year-old man was left with a head injury after refusing to give a cigarette to a group of youths in the attack on Monday.

He was walking home from the nearby Asda on Neasham Road when he was assaulted, with an object being thrown at his head, close to the junction of Louisa Street and Eastbourne Road.

The attacker was one of a group of between ten and 12 youths, all of whom were on bikes and wearing dark clothing.

It is understood the same gang of youths have been following the man on their bikes, shouting at him in the street, for a matter of months.

Police said: "The offender has asked the gentleman for a cigarette and upon being refused he has thrown an object at him which has cut his head open. This was a totally unprovoked assault."

A woman who said she was the victim's daughter posted on social media yesterday, saying: "This was my dad and he's doing fine. There were at least 11 of them and these are the same group that have followed him for months and abused him in the street whenever they see him."

She went on to say that the gang shouted at him and followed him home as he walked with his younger daughter just days before the attack.

Other residents complained about ongoing antisocial behaviour from youngsters in the Eastbourne area and called on the police to crack down on the problem.

Anyone with any information or CCTV footage is asked to call 101 and ask to speak to PC Mallows.