A teenager was recovering at home today after being beaten by yobs with a golf club in a suspected race attack.

The black youth was cornered on the way to his girlfriend's home and hit around the head causing widespread bleeding.

The blows were so heavy that one punctured his body causing a stab wound near the liver. Police believe a strike on the head could have been "potentially fatal".

Five youths have since been arrested and released on police bail without charge and a number of suspect vehicles have been seized.

The assault took place in Wickford on Sunday as the 19-year-old and his teenage friend, both from Brentwood, walked along London Road.

His white friend heard the group racially taunting the injured youth as he ran away to a nearby park.

Afterwards the victim was comforted by his friend before being taken to Basildon Hospital where he spent the night.

Det Con Lee Taylor, of Laindon CID, said: "This is a distressing incident and we are treating it as racially aggravated grievous bodily harm."

Detectives are currently exploring whether any CCTV footage of the incident exists and will also be checking local speed cameras.