SHOCKED bystanders rescued a young man being beaten up by a drunken yob on a night out.

It took five people to drag the victim free from the attacker, who bit him and strangled him as they tussled on the ground.

The 21-year-old needed treatment in hospital, where he received a tetanus jab and antibiotics, while police are investigating.

The incident blew up after the young man and two friends got into a taxi and were set on by two older, bigger men in Taunton at 2.45am on Sunday.

Lewis Robertson, 20, had been in Fever nightclub with the victim and another friend, both 21, before they made their way to the taxi rank in Corporation Street.

“We went up to a taxi and asked the driver if he had a fare and he said, ‘Yes, get in’,” said apprentice plumber Lewis, of Monkton Heathfield.

“Suddenly two lads came up to the taxi, swearing and telling us to get out.

“I said, ‘Why don’t you just wait for another taxi?’, and one of them grabbed the door, threw it open, punched me in the eye, pulled me out of the taxi and threw me onto the pavement.

“Another person grabbed me and pulled me away to get away from him.

“I looked up and saw my mate on the floor, with another attacker on top of him, strangling him.

“It took four or five people to pull my mate from underneath him and drag him by his legs to safety.”

The cabbie drove off before the attackers flagged down another taxi and left the scene.

Lewis received a swollen, black eye and a cut on his face, while his friend, who does not want to be named, had bite marks on his head, scratches from being dragged along the ground and bruises.

Lewis said: “It all happened so quickly and was a bit of a blur, but they were big lads.

“They were screaming and swearing at us. Someone shouted at them, ‘Leave them alone, they’re only kids’.

“I imagine they didn’t fancy waiting for a taxi and thought they’d frighten us into getting out for them.”

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating and have asked witnesses to contact Taunton Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111 quoting crime reference 18795/15.

Adam Fouracre, chief executive officer of Stand Against Violence said: “This incident has a number of similarities with my brother Lloyd’s tragic murder in 2005.

"The needlessness, brutality and random nature. These incidences can so easily end lives and it is incredibly lucky in this case that there was not more serious consequences."