COWARDLY armed thugs brutally attacked a Huddersfield newsagent - then turned on his elderly mother.

The attack was the latest in a string of assaults carried out on the shopkeeper in the last five years.

Victim Dinesh Joshi, 49, needed 17 stitches to his head and his 73-year-old mother, Maniben, suffered a broken nose and two black eyes.

Two masked men, armed with a gun, a claw hammer and two bricks, entered the shop at 9.45pm on Wednesday. They threatened to kill Mr Joshi if he didn't hand over his money.

When he refused the men, later joined by four others, tried unsuccessfully to force the till open themselves.

They then subjected Mr Joshi to a brutal 15-minute attack, in which they smashed bricks against his head.

Mr Joshi bravely tried to fend off the men before they escaped, leaving the terrified shopkeeper lying in a pool of blood.

He said: "I had a feeling something was wrong because a gang of young people had been hanging around outside my shop quite a lot.

"I believe the attack was planned and that a man who came in just before the attack was looking for a quiet period so his gang could strike

"After the attack I was in shock and couldn't press the panic button, so I went outside and shouted for help.

"Some neighbours came to my aid and stayed with me until the police and ambulance arrived."

The shopkeeper, who has lived in Lockwood for 33 years, said he should be celebrating the 21st anniversary of the shop opening.

Instead he is living in fear.

Mr Joshi and his mother were also attacked two-and-a-half years go.

He was shutting up shop one night in July, 2003, when a gang attacked him from behind. His mother was shoved over when she tried to save him.

Since 2001 he has been beaten up, burgled and come-face-to-face with a knife-wielding robber and thieves who tried to snatch his till.

Mr Joshi said: "Local businesses are being forced to close through fear. I may have to do the same.

"These thugs are trying to rule the place and are ruining the livelihoods of decent, hard-working people.

"Our local government and policing system fails us. There is no protection for people at night, when they are most vulnerable."

Neighbour Jack Hooper, 80, who alerted police to the attack, said: "The people who carried out the attack are disgusting. I don't go out at night because it's not safe.

"The council should take better security measures, like putting up street lighting."

A Highways spokesperson said: "The reaction by the residents regarding street lighting and CCTV is understandable and we will be investigating the reported crime statistics for this area."

A police spokesperson said: "This was a nasty attack and was obviously a distressing experience for the victim.

"We take such matters extremely seriously and will seek to prosecute those responsible wherever possible.

"We are working closely with our partners and business owners to tackle crime in the area and carry out regular patrols through the neighbourhood policing team."

The enquiry into the attack is ongoing, and police ask people with information regarding the attackers to call 01484 436659 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.