A WOMAN has told of how she thought her friend was going to die when he collapsed with a bleed on the brain after being repeatedly hit with a gun during a vicious street attack in Bradford.

Christopher Johnson, 39, may also need reconstructive surgery to his face after suffering a fractured cheekbone and eye socket after being clubbed with what appeared to be a handgun.

Emma Dyson, a friend who was with Mr Johnson at the time, looked on in horror as blood poured from his head and he started to have a seizure.

Mr Johnson, a laboratory technician, was walking with Miss Dyson in Wibsey High Street at half past midnight last Sunday, when two males came up from behind and snatched Miss Dyson's handbag.

Miss Dyson, 35, a community care officer from Wyke, Bradford, said: "Two lads aged 15 or 16, one with fair-ginger hair and the other with dark hair, ran away down a snicket with my bag, and Christopher and I chased them.

"We lost sight of them and ended up in a secluded area in Adam Street, round the back of Wibsey School.

"Suddenly the two lads emerged from behind a skip. The fair-haired one, who had a grey hoodie on, just pulled a gun.

"Chris squared up to him and they were face to face. I said to Chris: 'Let's leave it, it's only a bag.' I felt frightened. I thought anything could happen.

"The lad was jumping around with the gun, then he hit Chris three times in the face with it and knocked him out. Chris fell to the ground and hit his head on the kerb.

"The lads ran off and Chris started to have a seizure. There was blood coming from his head. He started shaking and I thought he was going to die at the side of the road."

Miss Dyson ran to raise the alarm and Mr Johnson was taken to hospital by police and was given a CT scan and was found to have had a bleed on the brain.

Mr Johnson, of Wibsey, was detained in hospital for two days. He is now recovering at home but has to return to Bradford Royal Infirmary on Friday to assess the damage to his face.

He said: "I am very sore. They are going to check if I will need surgery on my cheek and eye socket.

"I don't remember much about what happened. I am angry about it. I would urge anyone who saw anything to come forward."

Miss Dyson added: "I couldn't believe the police had not put out a public appeal on this. They should have been more pro-active about it. These people need to be caught. Someone else might not be quite so lucky next time."

Detective Sergeant Tim Lofthouse, of Bradford District CID, said: "This was a nasty assault which caused a man to suffer injuries he may need further surgery to correct.

"We would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the High Street area of Wibsey between 12.20am and 1am on Sunday, October 5. We would be particularly keen to speak to anyone who might have seen two males running from the High Street in the direction of Adam Street at around this time, or anyone who might have seen where they went afterwards.

"It is believed some sort of weapon was used in the attack and it is important that we trace these males and bring them before the courts. Anyone with any information which may assist our inquiries is asked to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."