A MAN was beaten up in an attack outside a petrol station.

The 24-year-old had gone into the BP garage on Wakefield Road, Moldgreen, to buy some cigarettes.

He then saw a group of men approach his friend outside.

When he went out, one of the men became aggressive and he walked away.

But one of the men ran up to him and punched him.

The victim managed to fend him off at first, but the other two men then joined in.

The victim was punched, knocked to the ground and then hit and kicked.

The thugs fled when a passer-by yelled at them.

The assault happened at 3.30am on Sunday and left the victim with a black eye, a bruised neck and a bump on his head.

All the attackers are white.

One is aged 19 or 20, with short mousy brown hair that has blond streaks in the front.

He wore a light, multi- coloured shirt.

Another is 18 to 20 and slim, with short, spiky blond hair.