A brutal attack on an innocent teenager who could lose the sight in one eye is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime, police said today.

Trainee baker Daniel Stringer-Prince, 17, was walking through Hyde town centre with his best friend Kavan Brown when they were set upon.

Daniel suffered severe damage to his face and is in danger of losing his sight in one eye.

He suffered a fractured skull, broken cheekbone, and two fractures to an eye socket.

Detectives said they are treating the incident as a hate crime because that is how the victim perceived the attack.

Pictured: Battered face of 17-year-old attacked in Hyde town centre

All of the gang were Asian but no racist comments were made to either of the victims during the incident, police said.

Kavan, 19, suffered a broken nose in the random attack on Nelson Street.

The friends were passing a takeaway on Market Street when a man inside the shop waved a knife at them and gestured that he was going to cut their throats.

The friends ignored the threat and walked on.

But the gang then emerged from the shop and chased them as they fled to a relative's house and savagely beat them as they tried to get inside.

Daniel's mother, Cheryl Stringer, of Woodstock Crescent, Woodley, Stockport, said: “They are evil thugs who have picked on two innocent lads.

“Daniel will need to see a specialist in the next few days to assess the damage to his right eye. Thankfully he is able to open his left one a little.

“Daniel was punched – managed to land one punch himself – and was then pushed to the ground and kicked in the head. They also took his wallet.

“I cried when he opened his one eye – it was a huge a relief, we were fearful he would lose his sight completely.”

There were seven or eight attackers. They are Asian, in their late teens or early 20s.

Detective Inspector Dave Moores, of Tameside CID, said: “It happened at a time of night where there are usually plenty of people milling around walking between pubs or visiting takeaways in the area.

“A large group of up to eight offenders ran after the victims and anyone seeing it would have been under no illusions of what they were witnessing.

“Please, if you saw the incident or what led up to it, or if you have any information that could help us, then pick up the phone.

“I completely understand why this would cause some legitimate concern in the community, but I do not want anyone to jump to any conclusions about this. This type of incident is unusual in Hyde, but that does not lessen the impact on the victims, their families and the wider community.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Tameside CID on 0161 856 9250 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Pictured: Battered face of 17-year-old attacked in Hyde town centre