A TEENAGER vowed yesterday never to return to the park where he was the victim of an unprovoked attack in broad daylight.

Christopher Fazakerley, 16, was knocked unconscious with a metal bar in the assault.

The youngster, of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, has broken his silence over the attack, to appeal for help in catching his attacker.

The catering student, who was only 15 at the time, had gone to Consett Park with friends to eat their lunch in the sunshine on Thursday, August 8.

They were on their way back to Derwentside College when they ran into a gang of five older youths, at about 12.40pm, who began shouting abuse.

One of the gang struck Christopher with a metal bicycle seat post, knocking him out. He was treated for head injuries at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The attack left him concussed for three days and he remembers little about it. What has stuck in his mind is the fear it could happen again.

"I am never going back there," he said. "I'm just too scared and so are my mates. From now on we are just going to stop in the college for lunch - it's the safer option.

"My parents had gone away for a week and came back to find me in hospital. It was a nasty shock for them as well."

PC Jonathan Hamill, of Consett Police, said: "This was a serious and unprovoked attack. Our inquiries so far have drawn a blank, but I urge anyone with any information to contact me."

Christopher's attacker is described as wearing a highly distinctive Celtic-style gold ring on the little finger of his right hand.

Anyone with information is asked contact PC Hamill on (01207) 504204.