A FATHER-of-three who says he was attacked by a gang has warned late-night drinkers in a North-East town to be on their guard.

Eddie Harrop has been left with head injuries, two black eyes, bruising to his neck and ribs and needed stitches inside his mouth after the incident in the early hours of Sunday. He has undergone a brain scan and two x-rays of his jaw since the ordeal.

The 26-year-old, from Darlington, said he had been out for a few late drinks with a friend at some of the town's bars and was waiting alone for a taxi when he was approached by two men.

Mr Harrop, a former soldier, said: "They started asking me questions, as if they wanted a fight. I just kept saying, 'Look lads, I don't want any trouble, I just want to get a taxi and go home'."

A fight broke out between Mr Harrop and the two men where punches were exchanged.

Mr Harrop said: "I tried to move away from them, but they followed me. There were girls stood at the taxi rank, screaming at them to stop. But they wouldn't stop."

Mr Harrop said he eventually ended up on the floor, with the assailants kicking his head, before five or six other men joined in the assault.

The incident took place in Bondgate, Darlington, near the Tap and Spile pub, at 2am on Sunday.

"I just remember thinking that it was only two weeks ago that someone was killed with one punch, and I'd had maybe 15 or 20 punches and the same in kicks," said Mr Harrop.

"I really, honestly, thought I was going to die. They were kicking me and I was thinking that they would stop. It gets to the point where you're thinking they're not slowing down, it is getting harder."

The altercation ended when an ambulance arrived and the men ran off, leaving Mr Harrop lying in the road.

He said: "I just want to warn people to be on their guard if they're out. You never think it's going to happen to you. I thought it would never happen to me, but it did."

* Police have confirmed an incident had taken place in Darlington at the weekend and one man had been arrested, but later released without charge. Investigations are continuing.