AN ATTACK victim was last night recovering in hospital.

The man, 45, was set upon by a gang in an alleyway behind Manchester Road in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police said he was attacked with a weapon, leaving him with cuts to his back and face. The attack took place at around 12.15am in an alleyway between Corporation Street and Alfred Street.

Yesterday morning, two alleyways and the forecourt of a Corporation Street car wash remained closed by police.

A forensics officer was taking samples from a patch of what appeared to be blood and collecting fragments of glass. A smashed Budweiser bottle and a pair of flip flops left in the alleyway had been ringed with yellow chalk.

Police appealed for any information that could help them piece together what happened.

Det Sgt Scott Anger of Swindon CID said: “This is a busy area of the town, so someone must have seen or heard something suspicious. We’re appealing for anyone who may have witnessed an altercation between males in the area around midnight Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, July 8.

“We are currently continuing our investigations and people may notice an increased police presence in this part of town.”

Police have not said what type of weapon was used in the attack.

However, the incident is the latest in a number of violent assaults in Swindon.

Last Saturday, police were called after an 18-year-old man was attacked by a gang on Dorcan Way. His eye socket was broken.

Later that day, forensics officers were at a house on Bathampton Street, Railway Village. A man, 29, was taken to GWH with injuries to his face after being assaulted. Another man, 23, was arrested on suspicion of assault. He has been released under investigation.

Anyone with information about the latest Broadgreen assault should call Swindon CID on 101, quoting reference number 54180062579.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.