TWO men are in hospital and a missing man is thought to be injured after a savage beating on a garage forecourt.

The three men, the occupants of a stolen car, were repeatedly beaten with sticks or baseball bats during a prolonged attack in Seaham, County Durham.

The incident took place at about 8.10pm on Tuesday, when a red Rover Metro containing three men pulled into the Esso garage in Stockton Road, near The Mallard pub, to fill up with petrol.

Before any of the occupants were able to get out, a red 3 Series BMW -with the registration plate G933VMO -pulled up.

A man got out of the BMW and appeared to try to open the driver's door of the Metro, which reversed to get away and crashed into a third car.

The men in the Metro ran from the vehicle, and several people rang police to say a group of men, some armed with sticks or baseball bats, were fighting.

Paramedics arrived to find a 33-year-old man, from the Tatham Street area of Sunderland, lying injured near the forecourt. A younger man, from the same address, was found in nearby Doreen Avenue. Both men were taken to hospital with head and body injuries, and were last night in a stable condition.

Police say the third man may need hospital treatment.

The BMW is yet to be traced, and officers are appealing to anyone with information to call them on 0845 606 0365.