POLICE in Devizes are to link up with businesses and councils in a bid to curb growing violence at weekends after a 23-year-old man was beaten beyond recognition in the latest assault.

The victim, who was set upon by three men outside the Kebab House in Northgate Street at around 2.30am on Saturday, needed five stitches in a wound above his left eye as well as treatment for cuts and bruises.

He was so badly beaten, his mother couldn't recognise him.

Now Devizes police sergeant Andy Peach, who has moved back to the town after a 17-year stint elsewhere in the county, wants to clamp down on the late night rowdies.

He wants take-away food shop owners and publicans to work with the police to ease the problem. He is also going to approach the town and district councils to look at ways of minimising violence.

The family of the latest victim have asked that he not be identified for fear of retaliation, but he told the Gazette that he had spent a quiet and enjoyable Boxing Day evening in The Crown in New Park Street with his brother and cousin. As the designated driver, he had nothing to drink.

"Afterwards we went on to the Kebab House and we were sitting in the car, eating our kebabs, when we became aware of something going on among a group of girls," he said.

"My cousin got out because he recognised the girl being shouted at and he wanted to help. My brother followed and I got out as well to see if I could help.

"I asked someone what was going on. There was a brief silence and then a barrage of random insults. I turned away to go back to my car when I felt a blow on the back of my head.

"I looked round and saw three lads coming at me. I recognised one of them from earlier in the evening, but the others were completely new to me."

He was knocked to the ground and the three men rained punches to his head and face. It was a few moments before his brother and cousin realised what was happening, but they managed to rescue him and took him to the Royal United Hospital, in Bath.

The victim said: "The cut above my eye was very deep and needed five stitches. The doctor said it was cut right down to the muscle. My whole face swelled up and the next morning my mother couldn't recognise me. It was very distressing."

It is likely he will be left with a permanent scar.

The incident is by no means isolated and police have been criticised for not taking action to stop similar violence.

The mother of another victim, a 19-year-old kicked and beaten outside the Kebab House on a Saturday night in November, said: "A number of parents who live in the vicinity of Devizes are becoming very concerned when their sons and daughters go out for a quiet drink with friends and end up being kicked half to death."

Sgt Peach said the problem was a community one and everyone had a share of responsibility for it.

He said: "On any given Friday or Saturday night there is one sergeant and three constables to police Devizes. It is a nice little country market town. It is not Dodge City.

"But with up to 500 people coming out onto the street at the same time and all looking for something to eat from a limited number of fast food outlets, it only takes someone getting jostled to start a fight.

"We recognise there is a feeling among the public that nothing is being done, but it is not all down to the police."