Angry neighbours chased a masked thug who had viciously beaten a store owner and left him in a pool of blood.

The man pounced on Joseph DaCosta, 31, as he opened up the Happy Valley Mini Mart yesterday morning.

Mr. DaCosta needed stitches after being viciously assaulted with a baseball bat and needed surgery after his arm was broken twice as he fought to fend off the attack.

Relatives believe quick-thinking by the victim's wife, Ana, saved both the store's cash and further blows being rained on the victim.

His father John F. DaCosta said: "There was a big hole right on the side of his head. It was terrible. He can't believe what happened. When the guy came in he didn't know what to do.

"Then the man hit him over the head and my son fell down and couldn't stand up. He tried to protect himself with his feet. It looked like he was trying to kill my son."

The attacker then followed the victim's wife upstairs but she told him she didn't have the keys to get at the money.

Mr. DaCosta Sr. continued: "He got furious and then came downstairs and my son ran to the door and called for help .

"Then my daughter-in-law called neighbours and the attacker panicked ran off and she closed the door. She was very clever.

"The attacker heard her scream and fled. Then the neighbours were chasing him."

Mr. DaCosta Sr. arrived at the shop in Happy Valley Road, Pembroke within a few minutes of the attack at 7 a.m. yesterday.

He said: "My son's wife called me at my house and I called the Police.

"I jumped in the car and came flying down to the shop and found him sitting down with blood all over the place."

The victim's sister, who only gave her first name Teresa, said: "It was the first time we have had any trouble, he's been here three years. We have a lot of security here.

"He put in cameras after a spate of crimes around here, to protect his wife. He had done everything he could but this guy must have been determined.

"The attacker must have watched him every morning. He didn't get any money but it doesn't make it any easier.

"His wife saw everything. She went upstairs to alert the Police."

One neighbour told The Royal Gazette she had seen the attacker run off down the hill: "A group of people chased after him but I don't know what happened."

Witnesses said the man was wearing a mask similar to ones seen in the horror film Scream. But Police said they have not found a mask or weapon. The attacker was described by witnesses as tall with a medium build.

One neighbour said she was shocked when she saw the attacker running through her yard in his bid to escape.

Yesterday, Mr. DaCosta's third cousin Michael Araujo appealed for the public to help turn in the attacker.

He said: "Maybe someone knows someone who has a Scream mask like this."

The mask is white with a black elongated mouth and black eyes.