Bonfire Night thugs left Dan Thornton with a bleeding eye and a suspected fractured cheek.

The 19-year-old labourer was set upon by three youths who repeatedly kicked him in the head.

Mr Thornton was attending bonfire celebrations in Lewes on Monday night when he left his friend to buy a drink.

He was walking from the recreation ground near Tesco across a footbridge to The Pells between 11pm and 11.30pm.

He said: "They began talking to me but I didn't want to know and carried on walking. They started pushing me around and I was knocked to the ground."

Mr Thornton was kicked in the head several times before the attackers fled. He raised the alarm on his mobile phone and spent the night at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Recovering at home in Patcham, Brighton, Mr Thornton said the attack was unprovoked and described the offenders as "pathetic and cowardly".

His father, Robert, 51, chief engineer at Brighton General Hospital, is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits.

He said: "It was disgusting. If someone can't walk to a shop to buy a drink without being set upon, then what can you do?"

Dan's 37-year-old mother Jackie, who works at a school, was in tears when she saw her son's injuries.

Dan will be off work for several days and was expected to need more hospital treatment.

Police said they were investigating the incident, which was the only serious crime reported during the Lewes celebrations.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.