A SECURITY guard was badly beaten in a violent attack over the weekend.

Three youths set about the man at a building site on Grange Road in Darlington in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police believe the man was subjected to an attack which lasted several minutes, and although he suffered extensive cuts and bruising to the face, the mans injuries are not thought to be serious.

The three males then fled from the scene of the crime, which was near the vets' surgery.

The youths ran-off in the direction of South Park, where police immediately launched an intensive search.

The males, described as being youths not men, are thought to have escaped with an unknown amount of money.

Detective inspector Billy Hugill said: "There was extensive police activity around that time.

"We thought they were cornered within the South Park area, but we were unable to utilise air support.

"We then got reports of three males running off in the Smithfield Road area at about 2.30am."

Police are especially keen to trace one male witness who was in the Smithfield Road area at the time and who has already spoken with officers.

Anyone with any information should contact the police on 0845-6060365.