A trio of good Samaritans were viciously attacked when they tried to stop a gang of thugs beating up a man on the street.

A passer-by intervened when he saw a man being attacked by five louts in Worthing on Wednesday night.

He managed to divert the men and the victim escaped and ran away, but then the second man was set upon by the assailants.

Another two men then stepped in to save him and they themselves were brutally beaten, leaving them with multiple and serious injures.

One, aged 47, was knocked unconscious and the other, aged 23, was beaten about the head with a spirit level, leaving him with a bad gash to his head.

The attacks took place on the junction between Northcourt Road and Westcourt Road at about 7.30pm.

Sussex Police said the five men were believed to have been drinking nearby in the Southdown pub.

One of them repeatedly used a metal spirit as a weapon until it broke in half.

Detective Constable Peter Davis, of Worthing CID, said: "This is quite a shocking incident. A large number of people have witnessed it because it was in a residential area.

"Two men have been arrested nearby and we have a third suspect.

"We are taking it very seriously and inquiries are ongoing. It could have had awful consequences."

The two men with the most serious injuries were treated at Worthing Hospital and released. The older man had concussion and the other required seven stitches in his head.

The other two victims have been in contact with police but did not require hospital treatment.

Last night the two arrested men, both in their early 20s, were being questioned by detectives over the incident.

Police did not release descriptions of the three remaining suspects.

Officers have recovered half the spirit level and are still looking for the remaining half.

Anyone who witnessed the assault, or who has found the missing piece of spirit level, should call DC Davis on 0845 6070999 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.