LATE night attack victim Alistair Thomas has told how he was beaten up at the end of a night out to celebrate a new job.

Mr Thomas, 42, of Jump Farm, Devizes was left unconscious and suffering from a broken ankle and cheek bone when he was attacked after leaving the Corn Exchange during the early hours of May 31.

He said: "It had been a really good night. We had been in a few pubs before we went to the Corn Exchange and the atmosphere had been great.

"It is upsetting that this could happen in Devizes. It is a town where I know loads of people and you do not expect this to happen."

He said he had become separated from his friends and as he went past Strakers estate agents on his way to the kebab shop he noticed a crowd of young people near the bus stop.

He can remember little of what happened but police, who have seen CCTV, believe he intervened to try and stop a fight and was then attacked.

Mr Thomas, who for many years was the pizza chef at Franco's restaurant in Old Swan Yard, Devizes, was out with three friends from Devizes Rugby Club after being offered the opportunity of a new job with Bell Aerocan on the Hopton Industrial Estate.

He said: "I gone there on a temporary basis and I was told by the agency that they wanted me to go back for a trial for a permanent position so I was quite excited at the prospect of getting the job.

"We had gone out to celebrate. I am used to being out late in Devizes because of my job in the restaurant and have never felt threatened before."

Mr Thomas, who has a 12-year-old son he looks after at weekends, is now convalescing at his parents' home in Great Cheverell.

He said: "My son was worried and upset about what happened. He came here at the weekend and I tried to explain it to him. But I was unconscious for about ten minutes and really can't remember much."

Mr Thomas grew up in Great Cheverell and went to the village primary followed by Lavington School. He said: "The only good thing about all of this is how kind everyone has been. The police have been very good and I have had lots of people asking after me."

He has been told the offer of a trial at Bell Aerocan will still be available when his ankle heals.

Two men in their 20s from Devizes have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and released on police bail.