POLICE are appealing for information after youths attacked a man with a metal gate and wooden pole.

The alleged incident happened outside Peats Buildings, in Coxhoe, at around 3.20pm on Saturday.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "The man was trying to stop the teenagers from getting in to a property when the group attacked him.

"They punched him in the face, threw a metal gate at him, which hit him in the chest, and hit him with a wooden pole, causing a cut to his head. He was treated by paramedics at the scene."

The youths, who are all teenage boys, are believed to have driven off in a Ford Fiesta following the assault.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called to Peats Buildings in Coxhoe, where a person was reported to have been injured.

"We sent an ambulance to the scene, where one person was treated and discharged.

A police spokeswoman said: “We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnesses the assault, or who may know who the teenagers are.”

Please call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 262 of February 8 with any information.

Alternatively information can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.