A WOMAN walking home after a night out was "pounced on" and knocked unconscious in a vicious attack by a gang of up to 10 men.

Helen Greaves, aged 33, was returning from Bolton town centre with a male friend when she was savagely set upon outside the Bolton Plastic Components building in Grecian Crescent, Great Lever.

Her head was repeatedly smashed against the ground some time between 1.30am and 2.25am on Sunday morning. The random attack only ended when the friend intervened.

Now she and her family are hoping the public can help police trace her attackers.

“I can’t remember anything because I was unconscious," said Ms Greaves

“All I remember is waking up and my friend saying the police and ambulance were coming.”

Ms Greaves' mother Katrin Greaves said: "There is CCTV footage of the group of men chanting outside the Little John pub which shows my daughter along with her friend walking past the pub, then the guys following them.

"They pounced on my daughter, dragged her down to the ground and knocked her unconscious for a few minutes.

"Her friend chased them off, thankfully.

"Goodness knows what would have happened had he not been there."

Ms Greaves suffered facial injuries and was treated in hospital for a grazed shoulder and bruising.

She said: “I had a big cut above my eye and it’s all swollen and bruised where they threw me to the ground or kicked me.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with it. It’s been a struggle this week."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "There is nothing to suggest that this wasn't an unprovoked attack.

"The woman has been grabbed, thrown to the ground and the offender has banged her head against the ground, causing injury.

"We have been given a description of a man who was black, 5ft 9in, skinny, and wearing a red hoodie with the hood pulled up and black tracksuit bottoms.

"He is suspected of the assault, but there may be nine other people involved."

Inquiries are ongoing and officers are examining CCTV footage of the attack.

No arrests have been and anyone with information of the assault should call police on 101.