Battered and bruised from a severe beating, Bernie Spencer lies recovering in his hospital bed.

The cook, 56, suffered serious head injuries and at one point doctors were unsure whether he would survive.

His employer, Paul Crowther and Mr Crowther's wife, Caroline, are offering a £5,000 reward to catch the offenders and police are continuing their inquiries.

Mr Spencer works for Atlantic Marine sales and charter in Basin Road North, Portslade.

Mr Crowther, the company's managing director, said: "Bernie is lucid but he can't remember what happened.

"He has brightened up a lot and is clearly on the mend but he is lucky to be alive."

Attackers left Mr Spencer in a pool of blood in Basin Road North, close to his home, in the early hours on Saturday last week.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, and later to London's Atkinson Morley Hospital, which specialises in head injuries.

He is now back at the Royal Sussex and his condition is said to be satisfactory.

The £5,000 reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attackers.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call police on 0845 6070999.