A MAN was viciously beaten up in a suspected homophobic attack.

The 43-year-old man was walking through Horsenden Hill, Greenford, at about 6pm on Wednesday, July 13 when he was set upon by a gang of youths who asked him if he was gay.

When the group of boys approached the victim he told them to leave him alone and carried on walking when one of them said "We have just decided it's your unlucky day" before attacking him with a branch of a tree, around the face and head.

The boys then ran off leaving the victim seriously injured. He received cuts and bruises to his face, a blood clot in his ear which had to be drained and a fracture to the base of his right eye socket. The victim is still traumatised from the attack and is still receiving treatment.

He has not been able to return to work and the police are keen to trace his attackers.

Two of the boys are described as white, aged 16, wearing white tops and grey or black trousers. One is 5ft 6ins tall and the other is 5ft 10ins tall. They both had London accents.

Anyone with information is asked to call DS Dave Coward on 020 8246 9623 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111