A cash and carry worker almost lost his nose in a brutal attack by a gang in Walsall town centre.

Staff trainer Andrew Hardwick had popped out to buy some cigarettes last Thursday night when he was pounced on by a group of men.

One of the thugs sunk his teeth into the 28-year-old’s nose while the other smashed a beer bottle in his face.

The gang, which was made up of around three men, were only stopped when a group of girls who witnessed the attack came to Mr Hardwick’s rescue.

The injuries to Mr Hardwick’s nose are so severe that he now faces plastic surgery to reconstruct it.

The unprovoked assault has shocked Mr Hardwick and his family, who are now appealing to the public to help police catch the yobs.

Andrew’s mother Helen Hardwick said her son had walked a short distance from his home to an off-licence in Bridge Street, when the gang attacked him outside the KFC restaurant in Upper Bridge Street.

She said she could not understand the motive for the attack as the gang had not taken her son’s mobile or wallet.

“He had been drinking with a friend and then they parted company and he decided to go and get some cigarettes,” she said.

“He was by the KFC and the next thing he knew someone was on his face biting his nose and someone else bottled him in the face.

An ambulance was called and he was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital where he was treated. He is now recovering at home.

“It’s the viciousness of it all. It was just horrible, why would you want to bite somebody else?” said his mother.

“Andrew has always been quite a confident person but he has lost that now.”

She said she hoped the area was covered by CCTV cameras which would reveal the identities on her son’s attackers.

Mrs Hardwick said although police had attended on the night, so far nobody had been caught for the attack, which happened at around 11.30pm on Thursday night.

Anyone with any information should contact Walsall Police Station 0845 1135000.