A Worthing man was left needing 14 stitches in a head wound after he was attacked at his daughter's birthday party.

Michael Webb, 62, says gatecrashers are to blame for the assault, which ruined his daughter Rebecca's big day.

Still feeling sick from the blows that badly bruised his jaw and eye and cut a deep gash along his eyebrow, Mr Webb said his family had invited about 30 teenagers to their home in Cortis Avenue.

His wife Jennifer, 52, said the party had been a great success until she spotted two strangers walking through the semi-detached house.

She asked who they were and they both claimed to know one of the revellers, which was later found to be untrue.

Mr Webb asked the two gatecrashers to leave and one started to walk out of the house but the other became abusive.

Mr Webb said: "He was swearing his head off at me and was trying to rile me up to have a go at him. He said, 'You've been pushing me'.

"His friend said, 'Don't do it' and the next thing I know I was told an ambulance was on its way - I think he knocked me out, then started to have a go at my wife."

Mr Webb was taken to Worthing Hospital for an X-ray. Since the attack he has been unable to go to work at Adur Metal Works, Shoreham.

He said: "All this hitting old people is getting out of hand. Imagine coming in someone's house and attacking them - they don't have any respect for anything, do they?"

Rebecca was horrified when she saw her father stagger downstairs with blood running from his wound.

She said: "One of the girls said there had been a fight and I thought it was a couple of lads that were invited - they are always getting into brawls.

"I saw dad - blood was running down his face - and called for mum. I was in shock. I did not know what to do."

Mrs Webb tried to stop her husband's attacker leaving but the man, believed to be in his early 20s, swore at her and pushed her out of the way.

She said: "He pushed me several times so I punched him. He pushed me into the back garden and I fell down.

"One ran over the hedge and one jumped over the fence and left marks on my car. By the time I got indoors, Rebecca was sitting on the floor absolutely trembling and could not control what she was saying."

Police say inquiries are continuing.