Police on Teesside are hunting a gang of teenage thugs who beat up a couple with a golf club, sticks, bottles and a broken chair.

Former triple heart by pass patient John Dawes, 43, had to be admitted to hospital with a broken cheek and nose, an eye which needed stitches and cuts to the back of his head caused when a wine bottle was broken over his head.

Wife, Denise, 40, had hanks of hair pulled from her head and has the impression of a footmark on her back. Cleveland Police say the middle aged couple were set upon by up to ten teenagers.

Detective Constable Mark Puckrin of Middlesbrough CID said: "This was an appalling attack in which the victims were overwhelmed by the number of persons involved. I would appeal to any witnesses to contact the police, particularly the parents of any teenage youths who may have returned home late on Friday evening.

"This type of attack is fortunately not common place but we need to arrest all those involved.''

The couple were attacked on Middlesbrough's Park End estate as they went to challenge a youth who had smashed a window in their car.

The youth who was challenged by Mrs Dawes as he made off from the family's garden spat in her face and screamed a string of obscenities at her.

Hearing the rumpus, her night shift worker husband got out of bed and both drove up the street in their car to catch up with the youth and his chums.

"There were two lasses. One tried to stop me getting near this youth, then they all just seemed to come from nowhere, attacked us and smashed the car up.''

The gang dispersed only when two men dashed out of the Evesham public house to help the couple.

The couple's garage was broken into last Christmas when a motorcyle was stolen and the car vandalised. "My husband has been off work with depression through the garage break-in so this is going to have more of an effect on him,'' said Mrs Dawes. "He is already under the doctor.''

Anyone with information should ring Cleveland Police on (01642) 303138 or (01642) 303126.