An Asian human rights lawyer yesterday told of his terror after being attacked by race-hate thugs.

Solicitor Tarlochan Gata-Aura, who specialises in campaigning for asylum seekers, was left badly beaten by a gang who yelled racial abuse.

He believes part of the reason he was attacked may have been due to his work with refugees.

Mr Gata-Aura, 45, was set upon as he walked home from a night out with friends in Gateshead.

As he walked towards his home he was attacked by a group of five youths, who initially asked him for a cigarette. Two of the thugs, who had hoods pulled up to cover their faces, followed him into his apartment block.

Mr Gata-Aura said: "They started laying into me, punching me for what seemed like an age. I was pretty badly beaten up, but I was more shocked than anything.

"I was waiting for a lift up to my flat and, when it arrived, they tried to push me inside. I managed to resist because I knew I was in real trouble if they managed to get me into a confined space.

"I suffered racial abuse and it has happened to me before, which is what started alarm bells ringing.

"I want to send a warning to people that racist attacks are an all too real fact of life."

Mr Gata-Aura has represented numerous asylum seekers in court and is a renowned human rights lawyer.