A FATHER was attacked at gunpoint while walking to the park with five children.

The 32-year-old dropped his baby son when he was struck from behind. His children screamed and cried while the attackers kicked and punched him on the ground.

The man was walking to Openshaw Park, in Rochdale Road, Bury, on Saturday afternoon with his sons, aged one, five and seven, and their friends, aged five and seven.

A black Volkswagen Golf with tinted windows stopped alongside them at 3.20pm in Parkhills Road and two men got out.

One man pointed a gun at him while the other struck him on the back of the head with a weapon, causing him to drop his one-year-old baby son to the ground.

He was then hit in the eye with the handle of the gun, and knocked unconscious as he was kicked and punched.

His seven-year-old son tried to protect his father and bite them, but he was knocked to the ground.

Passers-by saw what was happening and shouted at the attackers to stop. Then they fled in the car.

The victim, who lives in Bury, declined to be named, but told the Bury Times: “I felt hopeless. I saw the gun and tried to protect the children, but there was nothing I could do. I could hear the children screaming and crying while I was on the floor being kicked. My seven-year-old son was shouting at them to get off his dad.

“I never imagined something like this could happen. I am terrified now. I am scared of going out with my children in case I am attacked again. They are very shook up.”

He was taken to Fairfield General Hospital with injuries to his head, eye and jaw and stayed overnight before being discharged on Sunday to recover at home.

His baby son has a bruise on his head after being dropped on the ground.

He added: “I hope the police find out who did this before anyone else gets hurt. Attacking me is one thing, but doing it in broad daylight when I was with five children is another.

“There were a lot of people in the area and I would urge them to tell police what they saw.”

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, making threats to kill, and possession of a firearm, and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The attackers were described as Asian, aged in their 20s, of medium build and wearing dark clothing.

Detective Inspector John Mazzolai, from Bury CID, said: “This was a vicious assault on a man who was walking with five children, some of whom were his. Not only has the victim been hurt but the children are very upset.

“I would like to reassure the community that we do not believe this is a random attack and I would urge witnesses to the incident to come forward and contact us.

“The assault took place in the middle of the afternoon and we believe a number of people would have seen what happened.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 8199 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.