THREE youths were the victims of an unprovoked assault as they made their way home on foot from a night out in cold conditions.

The trio, aged 16, 17 and 20, was set upon by three other youths as they stopped for warmth in a bus shelter while walking several miles home from Consett to the Annfield Plain area of north-west Durham, early on Sunday morning.

Police believe the assailants were following in the same direction as their victims, along the A692 road, via Villa Real Service Station, at about 2.50am.

They stopped briefly at a bus shelter at Brooms Lane Ends, near the Jolly Drover's roundabout at Leadgate, about half-an-hour later.

The attack, in the shelter, left the 17-year-old suffering injuries to the jaw and cheekbone, for which he was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, before being transferred for further treatment at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

His two friends were both bruised and scratched around their faces in the attack.

One of the assailants was described as "tall", between 18 and 20, with short hair, and was wearing a light-coloured baseball cap, dark track suit bottoms, and a light sports-style jacket.

The second was about 5ft 6in, about 17 or 18, with light brown hair, short at the sides and was wearing dark track suit bottoms and a zipped jacket.

Police said the third was also 17 or 18, 5ft 6in, and wearing a zipped jacket.

Detective Constable Paul Burn, of Consett CID, said: "This was a totally unprovoked attack in which a stick, or possibly an iron bar, was used as a weapon.

"One young man received serious facial injuries as a result. He and his friends believe the youths who attacked them were also on the garage forecourt at the same time they were, and one, who spoke with a local accent, asked if they had a good night."

He asked anyone who believes they might have seen the youths who carried out the assault to come forward.

A dark Citroen Saxo, with a large silver exhaust, is believed to have driven along the road towards Stanley at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Consett CID, on (01207) 504204