A 53-year-old man was treated at the Alexandra Hospital after being attacked with a baseball bat outside his Church Hill home.

The unprovoked attack, described as savage, occurred just before midnight last Tuesday, after the man let his dog out into the back garden of his Abberley Close home.

Police said the victim became aware of two men, who obviously didn't want to be seen acting suspiciously, looking at houses in the street outside the back of his house.

The victim asked the men what they were doing and, without warning, was set upon with a baseball bat.

Police said the man received at least two fierce blows to his head and several blows to his body but managed to stagger back into his back garden and bolt the gate.

The two men ran off down the street and police believe they got in a small, dark coloured four-door car driven by a third person.

The victim had several stitches to a wound above his right eye and suffered extensive bruising to his head and back.

Pc Andy Jones, of Redditch police, said: "This was a savage and totally unprovoked attack on a man simply letting his dog out. Police urgently wish to identify these two men and establish what they were up to at such a late hour."

One attacker was described as white, aged 22-23, about 5ft 9ins tall with a stocky build. He was wearing a dark woolly hat and a dark jumper. He spoke with a local accent.

The second man was descried as white, aged about 18-20, about 5ft 6ins tall with a slight build. He had neat and tidy blond hair and was wearing a white T-shirt. He also spoke with a local accent.

Police said the second attacker was responsible for striking the victim with the baseball bat.

Anybody who has any information, saw the men in the area or the small dark car being driven away can contact Redditch police on 584888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.