A man was left bruised and battered after he was attacked by a mob of teenage thugs, some wielding lumps of wood.

Neil James, 27, from Hoo, was set upon as he left a takeaway in Darnley Road, Strood last Monday.

It is thought around a dozen teenagers kicked and punched him to the ground, smashing him over the head with lumps of wood.

He said: “My friend tried to pull them off me but he was so outnumbered he didn’t stand a chance. They were too much for him. I would guess they were between 14 and 16.

“I had my dog with me and he was able to scare them off. If he hadn’t I don’t know if I would have survived.”

The construction worker, who is originally from South Wales, says he has been left emotionally and physically scarred by the assault.

He was immediately taken to hospital after the attack and admitted overnight.

Full story in Monday's print edition of the Medway Messenger