A TELEVISION appeal has been launched for information about a "savage attack" in Bolton that left a man having a large section of his skull removed.

Victim Lee Crane suffered "devastating injuries" and needed the emergency surgery after he suffered a bleed on the brain in the unprovoked attack by four men.

He was found seriously injured at 4am on Saturday, April 2, at the corner of Starkie Road and Entwistle Street in Tonge Moor - almost directly outside his mother's house.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden appeared on BBC show Crimewatch Roadshow yesterday morning to say Mr Crane is slowly beginning to recall more about the horror attack.

Presenter Rav Wilding said: "Police in Greater Manchester need your help to find the gang responsible for a savage attack on a young father outside his Bolton home.

"Lee Crane has been left with life-changing injuries as a result.

"They really are horrific injuries that he suffered."

Det Insp Cadden said: "Lee was on his way back home to his mum's address in Starkie Road. He met a group of four men. They tried to engage him in conversation but Lee went back to his mum's house, made himself a cup of tea, came and sat out on the doorstep and had a cigarette.

"The men who had approached him before came round the corner, asked him for a cigarette, and then started to engage him in talk about his mobile phone, which was a Samsung Galaxy A5 in white.

"They were asking him for the pass code and it was at this point that the first punch was thrown at Lee and then he was attacked and that spilled out into the street.

"Lee went down onto the floor and he was stamped on and consequently he's had to have the front part of his skull removed.

"Lee was found pretty much outside his mum's address. Lee suffered devastating injuries from the attack.

"He suffered a bleed on the brain and memory loss but luckily that's coming back now."

Dad describes savage attack that left him with life-changing head injuries

Three were in their early 20s. One had longish brown floppy hair at the front with a hood or a cap.

The second had a blue top with orange patches on the arm.

The third was possibly of dual heritage, possibly Asian, with very close cut hair and a Mohican on top.

Det Insp Cadden said the fourth man was "really violent" and was in his late 20s or early 30s, 5ft 7in, with a quite slim build and wearing a brown round-necked jumper and grey jogging bottoms.

The attackers ran along Entwistle Street towards Ainsworth Lane after the incident.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, Crimewatch Roadshow on 08000 468 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.