Part of Shrugg's Wood, off West Paddock, known as Stannings, has been sealed off in connection with the incident involving the 19-year-old local man.

The injuries to his face and neck are thought to have been caused by a glass.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said: "The man was walking home after a night out.

"He presented himself to Chorley Hospital at 3am with a serious head injury, and was later released.

"He doesn't know how it happened.

"We have sealed off the area as part of our investigation and may conduct searches in the area."

Officers are also appealing for a driver to come forward after a man suffered serious injuries after a night out in Leyland.

Detectives investigating the circumstances of how he came by his injuries are keen to speak to the driver of a silver car, possibly a taxi, which picked up the man and a male friend near to the Seven Stars pub, Fox Lane at about 1.30am on Saturday.

Due to the nature of the injuries both men would have been heavily bloodstained.

Det Chief Insp Mark Gray, who is leading the investigation, said: "A 19-year-old local man making his way home from a night out has sustained serious injuries to his head. He has been treated in hospital and has since been released.

"We are currently investigating the circumstances of the incident to try and establish exactly what has happened and I would like to encourage the driver of the silver car to come forward and speak to us as he may be able to help us to do that."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 08451 25 35 45