The incident, which locals say also saw knives wielded before the victim was struck with a hammer, occurred shortly after midday beside the Thomas Paine statue on King Street in the centre of Thetford on May 26.

The victim was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge having been "left for dead" by the attackers, who are said to have made their getaway from the scene in a blue Range Rover.

The police cordoned off the scene, from the Bell Inn pub........

© Eastern Daily Press