A STREET pastor was attacked by drunken thugs when she stepped in to help a man who had been beaten unconscious.

The woman, aged 60, was giving up her weekend to help revellers get home safely when two men set upon her outside the Lounge Bar – formerly Pic’s – in Market Street.

Two men and two women “launched a seemingly indiscriminate attack” against four victims at 2.35am after being ejected from the bar.

They began throwing kicks and punches close to the taxi rank, near Bury Bus Station and at least three people were hurt.

One man fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement, prompting the street pastor to run to his aid.

She shielded him from further blows before police and paramedics could arrive at the scene.

According to police, one of the group then attacked the street pastor, who has not been named, and she suffered head injuries. She was checked out at the scene and did not suffer any lasting damage.

Detective Constable Lucia Cronin, of Bury police, said: “This was a sickening attack against several people, one of whom was a female street pastor who was simply trying to avoid further injury to a man lying on the floor.

“The offenders in this case have indiscriminately lashed out at anyone unfortunate enough to have been nearby.

“I would like anyone who may have been in the area at the time, or thinks that they may recognise those people responsible for this sickening attack to come forward and contact police.”

Police said that, after the attack, the group left their four victims lying injured on the pavement and walked off towards Haymarket Street. They have released CCTV images of four people they would like to speak with in connection to the incident. 

One of the male offenders is described as white, between 5ft 10 and 6ft tall, with stocky build.

He was wearing dark trousers and a white shirt.

A Lounge Bar spokesman stressed that, while the group had been in the bar, its bar and door staff had done everything expected of them.

“Other than the fact that this group happened to be in the bar earlier that night, there is absolutely no link between our bar and this incident at all.

“We have seen CCTV footage of the incident and know that the group went into a fast-food place before the attack. They had definitely been drinking.
“Our staff have a job to do and it can be particularly challenging for our door staff to react to certain situations.”

Bury Street Pastors is a group representing local churches who help revellers keep safe on nights out in the town centre, working alongside the emergency services.They are trained to spot vulnerable people and often offer them water, warm clothing and flip flops to people ending their night out.

In December 2014, the volunteers received a best community impact award at the Made in Bury Business Awards.

The group declined to identify the volunteer who was attacked or comment about the incident but a spokesman said they supported the police’s investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 270216/0336 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.