A teenager was forced to undergo emergency plastic surgery after he was brutally attacked with a hammer on Sunday.

The 16-year-old, from The Grove, had his face smashed in by two youths just yards from his house on May 20.

The teenager had been walking back from Coulsdon at 3.20pm when the two suspects got out from a parked bright green Peugeot 106 and asked him if he had been at a party the night before.

Before he had chance to answer the pair launched the horrifying attack, hitting him in the face with a hammer and a bit of glass.

A passer-by tried to help the teenager but the suspects threatened him with the hammer too.

The victim was then pushed over a wall and into a neighbour's back garden, where his attackers left him.

He was taken to East Surrey Hospital but was later transferred to East Grinstead Hospital to undergo plastic surgery.

The victim's father, who does not want his son to be identified, this week branded his son's attackers as "animals".

He told the Guardian: "It was a cowardly attack. My son had no idea what was going on or who these people were. He was just minding his own business walking home from Coulsdon.

"They mumbled something about him being at a party and then they started hitting him. They are animals. Anyone who can do that to a defenceless lad is an animal. I am calm because I know the police are dealing with it but if they pointed out in the street to me then that would be a different story.

"It makes me worried for my other son who is only ten years old. You wouldn't expect something like this to happen in leafy Surrey."

Anyone with information about the assault should contact DC Simon Morris at Croydon CID on 020 8649 0087.