POLICE in Quinton are appealing for witnesses after a man’s arm was nearly severed in an assault on Tuesday evening.

The 24-year-old was in a property on Rilstone Road with a friend when a number of vehicles pulled up at about 6.15pm.

The man went outside to see what they wanted and was attacked by around eight men with bats and struck with a machete, seriously injuring his right arm and back.

Officers investigating are keen to hear from anyone in the area at the time who saw what happened and can offer a description of either the men involved or the vehicles they were travelling in.

Detective Sergeant Reg Collett said: “This was a ferocious and violent attack and the man is lucky not to have been fatally injured. He remains at hospital receiving treatment for his wounds."

He added: “We believe this to be a targeted rather than random attack and we have carried out house to house and CCTV inquiries in the area.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed the assault or saw any vehicles driving at speed in the area around the time of the attack to contact me - all calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.