Hundreds of messages of support have been flooding in for a popular Fakenham tattooist who has undergone facial reconstruction surgery this week following a brutal attack.

Dan Tidd, 29, from North Creake, was attacked by at least two men in Fakenham during the early hours of Sunday morning.

After being knocked to the floor his face was jumped on repeatedly and his jaw was broken in two places.

Mr Tidd, who works at 4 Skin Tattooing in Fakenham, was set-upon at around 1.45am on Sunday.

He chased two men, who have been described as being in their mid to late 20s, after they knocked his friends Ben Gillard, 21, and Andrew Richardson, 22, unconscious in an unprovoked attack.

All three were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn. Mr Gillard and Mr Richardson have been discharged but Mr Tidd remains at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he was transferred to.

Mr Tidd's friends said that it is not known when he is likely to be released and he is expected to be off work for several months while he recovers.

The three friends were drinking in The Rampant Horse pub in Fakenham on Saturday night prior to the incident.

Mr Gillard and Mr Richardson were walking down Norwich Street towards a taxi when Mr Richardson was set upon by two men outside Lloyds TSB bank.

Mr Gillard, who also works at 4 Skin Tattooing in Fakenham, said: 'They seemed to have been waiting for us. One of them went straight for Drew (Andrew). I think he just didn't like the look of him. He punched him to the floor and started jumping on his head. I went to push him away and he looked so angry. I could sense the other guy behind me and that's all I can remember until I woke up.'

Their friend Craig Lewis, a martial arts instructor, then arrived on the scene to see both attackers repeatedly jumping on the victims' heads.

The attackers ran away and Mr Lewis put his friends into the recovery position.

Mr Tidd then arrived and chased the two attackers.

He chased them down an alley between Superdrug and Holland and Barrett, and across Queen's Road car park.

The men attacked him in an alley, near Fakenham Community Centre.

They repeatedly jumped on his face after knocking him to the floor.

Norfolk Police believe two other men may have been involved in the attack at this point.

The attackers ran away when Mr Tidd's girlfriend arrived, screaming at them.

Clive Povey, Mr Tidd's boss, had been drinking with him in The Rampant Horse on the night of the attack.

He said: 'They could have killed him if they had been going at him much longer.

'I don't know why anyone would do this. Dan is a really friendly lad, who wouldn't harm anyone, they all are.

'When he gets drunk he tells people how much he loves them. He never goes around looking for trouble.'

He added: 'The response we've had from people on Facebook and in the shop has been amazing and everyone has been asking how he is.

'A fellow tattooist in Sheringham has talked about organising a charity football match and doing other events to raise money for Dan to help him while he's off work and people have been coming in here donating money and through a PayPal account I've set up.'

One of the attackers is described as 6ft 2ins with short blonde hair and another is 5ft 10ins with dark hair.

Anyone with information should contact DC Larissa Foreman at King's Lynn CID on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.