Dave Cotton, 47, suffered serious head injuries after the attack outside Joe's fish and chip shop in Cannon Street, Wellingborough, on June 1.

He suffered a blood clot on one side of the brain and concussion on the other side and was initially taken to Kettering General Hospital before being transferred to Walsgrave Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Police issued an appeal for information, with Detective Sergeant Ali Farr describing the incident as "a nasty, serious assault" which had left Mr Cotton "fighting for his life in hospital".

While he was in hospital in Coventry, Mr Cotton's parents, who live in Cornwall, travelled hundreds of miles to come and see him. He was transferred from Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry to Kettering General Hospital on June 12.

But he has recovered enough to return to the home he shares with his brother in York Road, Wellingborough.

Mr Cotton's brother Stephen said: "David is now at home and is trying to get on with his life. He is very happy to be home, he is doing things at his pace. He isn't himself, he has got severe headaches, and anyone who has seen him has said he isn't looking well.

"But everybody is glad to see him and I think he is progressing wonderfully well, considering it was three weeks ago, for him to be back in his own surroundings."

An 18-year-old man from Wellingborough and a 16-year-old boy, of no fixed address, were arrested in connection with the attack. They have both been charged with GBH and are due to appear in court in July.