DETECTIVES have been left baffled by an apparently motiveless knife attack on a father-of-four.

The 26-year-old man was pounced on by a gang of youths after leaving an off-licence in Yarm Road, Darlington.

He was knocked to the ground with a martial arts weapon, known as a nun-chuck or rice flail.

His assailants then kicked, punched and stabbed him with a knife-type weapon until he was able to get up and run away.

The man's wife called an ambulance after he arrived home covered in blood.

He was treated for five slash wounds to his lower back at Darlington Memorial Hospital and released the next day.

Detective Sergeant Jeff Pow, from Darlington CID, appealed for any witnesses to the attack, which happened on Friday, at 8.30pm, to come forward.

It happened outside a parade of shops opposite the Wheatsheaf pub.

"It would appear to be a totally unprovoked assault on a family man, which could have had tragic consequences," he said.

"The youths were hanging around the paved area outside the shops.

"He came out of the shop, nothing was said and he was assaulted.

"The motivation is totally unknown to us. There was no attempted robbery and I can find no reason why he was assaulted.

"We believe that there were witnesses to the assault as we know there were people leaving the off-licence.

"We urgently need to speak to them."

The gang was made up of about seven white youths, all aged about 16.

One was about 6ft, wearing blue jeans and a tracksuit top and was referred to as Ben.

Another had light brown to fair hair and very pale skin and was wearing a light tracksuit with dark patches and a black and grey Aquascutum designer baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01325) 467681 and ask for Det Sgt Pow or the crime desk.