A GANG member who carried out a "vicious and racist" attack on an innocent man has been jailed for eight months.

Zuber Khan, 21, Bury Road, Haslingden, had been part of a group which set about victim Neil Lord as he walked home with two friends from a night out in the town, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Mr Lord, a decorator, had suffered from depression since the beating in May last year and no longer felt safe walking through Haslingden or any other local towns anymore, the court was told.

Keith Harrison, prosecuting, said Mr Lord saw a group of about 15 to 20 men as he approached the town centre.

Racist abuse was hurled at him and his friends for no apparent reason, although Khan knew Mr Lord from school, Mr Harrison added.

The gang ran towards them and Mr Lord's friend Damien Eastwood was punched several times and Mr Lord was struck to the knee causing him to fall, the court heard.

Mr Harrison said he was then kicked and punched by about five or six men and curled up in a ball to try and protect himself.

Somebody in the gang shouted "kill him" and another said "get the knife", which spurred on Mr Eastwood to dive into the gang and pull his friend to safety, Mr Harrison added.

Mr Lord suffered a sprained knee, bruises and soreness and was treated at hospital.

Khan, who had several previous convictions for violence, was later picked out of an identity parade by all three witnesses.

He was questioned by police but claimed he had not been party to the attack.

But at court Khan, the only person to be bought to justice for the melee, admitted affray and common assault.

Judge Norman Wright told him people were entitled to go out in their leisure time without being attacked in such a disgraceful way.

The judge, who said there clearly was a racial background to the fracas, added that the group had been like a pack of animals and the message must go out that those who involved themselves in group violence would go to prison.

Hugh Barton, defending, said Khan was showing signs of maturing and there were now signs he was settling down.

He had a job and was also hoping to go on a college course, he added.