A DAD was left with gruesome head injuries after being hit with a brick in a seemingly random attack in front of his children.

The 34-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Bolton News he had been returning to his home near the Al Falah mosque in Salisbury Street on Saturday when the shocking assault occurred.

The family, including the man's wife and children, were getting out of their car at around 6.30pm when he was approached by a stranger on a bike who he initially described as "polite" before things took a turn.

Suddenly the attacker swung a brick and hit the victim in the head several times leaving him with a deep gash above his eye and on top of his head.

The man explained that the incident had happened extremely quickly and unexpectedly.

"My wife and the children wanted to eat from a restaurant that they like so we said we would go get some food and come back and eat it at home so we went and we picked up the food and drove home," he said.

"As I was getting out of the car a white male came up on his bicycle.

"He was quite polite with me at first but before I could react he smashed my head three times with a brick - thankfully he didn't knock me out or worse.

"He threw the brick down, got on his bike and went off down the street.

"It couldn't have lasted more than 15 seconds."

The injuries required hospital treatment and the man was given 13 stitches but is expected to recover.

Residents living in the area told mosque leaders that they suspected it was racially motivated but the victim said he had no reason to think this was the cause.

"I can't say it wasn't a hate crime but it could've been anything else," he said.

"I want to make it clear that it wasn't definitely a hate crime."

The incident was reported to police and is believed to under investigation.