A Kosovan refugee who was left battered and bloodied by two thugs wielding a hammer still spoke of his respect for the people of Southend.

Nrek Kuveni suffered deep gashes to his face and head and bruising to his back after a frenzied attack by two men who broke into his bedsit in York Road, Southend.

He said they held him down on his bed, swore at him continuously and bludgeoned him with the hammer for ten minutes.

He described how he even broke free and ran for the door but was dragged back as the blows continued to rain down.

Mr Kuveni, who is 38 and speaks very little English, was warned by the thugs not to raise the alarm before they, and a woman who had stood guard by the door, calmly walked out.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Kuveni said he had never come across racism before in the nine months he has lived in Southend.

The former farm worker, who fled Kosovo in the aftermath of Serbian atrocities and the Nato bombings, said yesterday (Thursday): "Any country can have good and bad people and I have found good people here.

"I hope the police will charge these people but I do not blame the country for this."

Police said they believe the attack, at about 9.30pm on Monday, was racist and have urged anyone with information to expose the thugs who also attacked another Kosovan refugee with a tyre lever in the same house.

Mr Kuveni, bearing stitched-up wounds on his forehead and cheek, said: "I left Kosovo because of the war. I wish to stay here because of what happened in my country."

He said he originally fled with his family to Albania but could not afford to look after them and came to Britain. He said he hoped they could join him eventually.

He added: "Before the attack I had no bad feelings for people here. I have respect for people here because I have been treated well."

Mr Kuveni came out of hospital on Tuesday and with the help of Southend social services is now staying elsewhere in the town.

One of the men was white, aged 33 to 35, 5ft 4ins to 5ft 8ins tall and was of medium build.

He had dark brown hair, brushed back, and was wearing a black leather jacket. The second man was tall, with long hair tied back in a ponytail.

The woman is not thought to have taken part in the attacks.

Anyone with information should call Det Con Phil Butt at Southend CID on 01702 431212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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