A vicious attack left a man needing staples in his head after he was set upon by a group of teenagers who took issue with him sitting on "their" park bench.

Mark Fernyhough, 37, was beaten by a gang of up to eight people at Sturry recreation ground near Canterbury.

He was visiting the park with his girlfriend Tasha Feuchuk to play the augmented reality mobile game Pokemon Go when the couple were approached while sitting on a bench.

"We sat on these benches in the middle of the park and out of the corner of my eye I saw some shapes and then I heard ‘Oi that’s where we sit’", recalled Miss Feuchuk.

WARNING: Graphic injury image below

"I got up immediately and started to walk off and realised Mark wasn’t beside me and I turned around and I saw them shoving him.

"They had him stuck against the park equipment and they were hitting him in the head with something.

"It was dark but there must have been between six and eight of them."

After managing to pull her partner away, the couple managed to leave the park and immediately dialled 999.

Miss Feuchuk, 25, said: "Mark was having trouble walking after being hit in the head but I got him down the street.

"We sat on somebody's steps and the lovely neighbours let us in while we waited for the police."

Officers drove Mr Fernyhough to A&E at the QEQM Hospital in Margate where he needed a CT scan and staples in his head.

He is now recovering well but has been left with little hope the culprits will be found.

Kent Police confirmed officers were called to the Sturry park at 7.50pm last Wednesday.

A spokesman said inquiries are ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed what happened or has any information is urged to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/216297/22.