A MAN with cancer was left with severe concussion when he was assaulted on his own driveway in an unprovoked attack.

Andrew Knowles was approached from behind by a man and punched in the head, causing him to fall.

The 68-year-old, who is undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma, was putting a bird-box together when the assailant struck in Bold Venture Way, Clayton-le-Moors.

He said: “I was in the drive facing the garage, and all of a sudden I just felt a huge bang over my head.

“I thought it was the garage door at first but then I was hit again and I fell down.

“I just heard this voice saying, ‘this is for all the trouble you and your wife have caused me.’

“He then gave me another punch and left me on the ground.”

Mr Knowles said he crawled across the road to a neighbour’s house to ask for help.

The police were called and arrived soon after.

His partner, Beverley Sharples, said: “We can’t be sure who did it as he didn’t see who attacked him properly as the man was wearing a hoodie pulled over his face.”

Mr Knowles said the attack has had a profound effect on his health.

He now fears leaving the house and doesn’t feel safe in his own neighbourhood.

He said: “This has really affected me and I don’t want to let it lie.

“The doctors said I had severe concussion and my head is still in pain.

“I want this man caught and arrested and would like anyone with any information to help.”

Mr Knowles, who was a director of a coach company before retiring, said his assailant was around 5ft 10in tall and was wearing a black hoodie with a logo on the back. He also had a little girl with him aged around four.

The incident took place just before 4pm on Sunday, October 7.

A police spokesman said: “The aggrieved said he was in his front garden when a man wearing a grey hoodie, with his hood up, with a black logo, approached him and punched him to the head before turning around and walking away."