A FOOTBALL fan will be scarred for life after being slashed across the face leaving him with a gaping wound that needed more than a dozen stitches.

Owls fan Simon Hance of Westfield Avenue, Thurlstone, was in Blackpool for Sheffield Wednesday's away game on Saturday when he was was cut from his ear down to his mouth in an unprovoked attack. Simon, 22, was cut as he walked back to his hotel at around 1am on Sunday morning. The weapon stopped inches from his throat.

He was taken to hospital but the four inch wound poured with blood for more than two hours and paramedics told him he was lucky to be alive. Doctors also feared he may need plastic surgery. Simon said: "I didn't really know much about it when it happened but once I got in the ambulance I realised how bad it could have been. They caught a vein but it could have been an artery if it was a bit lower.

"They said it was probably a knife because it was a clean cut. It will definitely leave a scar but they don't know how bad yet because it is still swollen. Staff at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital stemmed the blood flow but were unable to stitch the wound because he needed a general anaesthetic and there was a lack of beds.

They told him he would have to go to a hospital in Preston the following day to have it properly treated. But Simon said he would prefer to go home and went to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital for stitches on Sunday evening.

They went out for the night and Simon was walking back to his hotel along the promenade after becoming separated from his pals when he was set upon. He said: "There was a gang of about six lads sat on the wall across from one of the pubs and as I walked past a couple of them starting saying things to me. I said I didn't want any trouble and just started walking away.

"Then two of them jumped me from behind. I thought they had punched me because it didn't hurt but it must have been adrenaline. They ran off and another lad came over and said blood was pouring from my face.

"When I rang my mates they didn't believe me at first but they did when I got back to the hotel in a hospital gown. It was meant to be a good day out with the lads." He will have to return to hospital today for a check-up to see how the wound is healing and to have it re-dressed.