A dad was battered by drunken hoodie yobs in front of his three terrified sons.

Tony Charles was attacked by a drunken gang he confronted who were hurling abuse at a young papergirl.

Plant operator Mr Charles, 45, was left blood-soaked and needing hospital treatment after being punched in the face and hit with a bottle as he cycled home from work.

The daylight attack, on a footbridge near Mr Charles' home in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, was witnessed by his frightened wife Paula, 34, and their children - Adam, three, Harry, two, and five-months-old James - who had come to meet him.

Shocked Mr Charles, who may need an operation for a broken nose, said: "I'm furious. My wife and children were terrified.

"The kids saw all the blood. We used to take them to the bridge to watch the trains, now they are too frightened to go."

Mr Charles was cycling home from his job as a plant operator at Air Products, in Pallion, when he came across the four youths - three of them drinking glasses of cider - on the bridge near Bartram Street, Monkwearmouth, at about 4.30pm on Friday.

The gang, who had hurled abuse at a young paper girl, were shouting and swearing at Mr Charles, and one youth spat his drink at his face.

He said: "I turned my bike round and pedalled back and approached them, they started getting abusive, waving their glasses around.

"I said to one, 'Put the glass down' and he threatened to hit me with his glass. As he went near my face with his glass as if he was going to hit me, I swiped it out of his hand.

"He whacked me on the bridge of my nose with his fist. In his left hand, he had a sports bottle with drink in and he whacked me in the face with that as well.

"My nose erupted with blood and it was running like a tap. My bike was covered in blood."

The youth continued trying to hit Mr Charles, who blocked his punches. He added: "One bent down and was going to run off with my bike."

A neighbour rang police before running to Mr Charles' aid and the gang made off down Newcastle Road and into Thompson Park, tailed by Mr Charles and police.

Mr Charles said: "They were drunk as skunks. My wife noticed a bottle of vodka with only quarter of an inch left."

He added: "People are having to divert to avoid groups of kids loitering around."

A 17-year-old boy was arrested by police and released on bail pending further inquiries.