THIS is the moment a shop assistant was left with wounds to his head and chest after a group of youths assaulted him.

CCTV caught six people who attacked Girish Sheth, aged 47, holding him down and kicking him at the Costcutter store in Eskrick Street on Saturday, April 14.

Another assistant who was working behind the till was punched by one the assailants, who had previously been verbally abusing her.

The incident was stopped after shoppers and a group of people who had been passing by the shop stepped in to help.

Mr Sheth said: “I was surprised by how quickly it happened, but we could tell from the start they had come for trouble.”

The other assistant, who preferred not to be named, said problems with anti-social behaviour in the area had been rare but had increased in recent months.

She added: “I was worried it was going to be a big fight, it was lucky the other guys came and helped.”

The group had been asked to leave the shop when they were aggressive and abusive towards staff and customers. The attack happened when they returned to the store and continued to cause trouble.

CCTV footage of the assault shows people following Mr Sheth into the shop and on to the ground before holding him down, punching him and then threatening other people with sticks outside.

The group was made up of two males and four females thought to be teenagers.

Later in the day other problems occurred when what was thought to be the same group began to verbally abuse a man outside the Kismat store in Eskrick Street close to Costcutter.

The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police and officers attended the scene after 3pm.

The incident is now being investigated as an assault, but police have appealed for more information on the assailants.

Anyone who can help police with their investigation should call 101 and give crime number 1248 14/04.