A MASKED gang who kidnapped a North-East man subjected him to hours of torture before dumping him on a deserted road.

Police are waiting to interview the 27-year-old victim, who was last night recovering in hospital from what is described as a sustained and savage beating.

The man, who lives alone, was abducted by three men from his bungalow in the village of Burnhope, near Consett, County Durham, in the early hours of Saturday.

He was repeatedly punched and kicked before being frog-marched out of the house where he was forced into a vehicle. It was then driven to an unknown location in the North-West of England.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "He was held in a room for several hours by his abductors and during that time he was systematically beaten, suffering serious injuries.

"He was finally taken from the property and dumped at a roadside by his abductors.

"Despite the seriousness of his injuries, the victim was able to make his way back to the North-East, where he subsequently received hospital treatment."

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Scott, head of Durham Constabulary's CID, is heading the investigation. He said: "At this stage, there is no known motive for what has clearly been a sustained and savage beating.

"The victim has yet to be interviewed and we have so far been unable to identify the property where he was held or indeed the exact point where he was released by his captors."

The victim, who has not been named, was kidnapped at about 4am.

He had just arrived at his home, behind Burnhope Lodge in Wrights Way, and was preparing to go to bed when the three masked men forced their way through the front door.

The area surrounding his home was cordoned off at the weekend while a police forensics team carried out a search.

Detectives are anxious to speak to anyone in the village who might have seen any strangers on foot acting suspiciously, or who spotted any vehicles that were unusual to the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Police on 0191-386 4929, or leave a confidential message on the Crimestoppers line, 0800 555111.