Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was the victim of a serious assault in Woodstock.

At around midnight on Friday, the 49-year-old was standing outside the Star Inn in Market Place while having a cigarette when he was approached by a young man in his late teens who asked him for a cigarette.

He gave him a cigarette and they were smoking together when, in an unprovoked attack, the younger man was set upon by a group of youths.

The older man tried to intervene, but was punched twice in the face so he went back inside the pub to avoid any further involvement.

A short while later he returned outside for another cigarette when a man walked past and punched him in the face. This knocked him to the ground where he was repeatedly kicked in the head by a number of people.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he was treated for abrasions and bruises to his face and body.

Details of the assault were only released by police today.

The man who attacked him is white, about 19 years old, 5ft 10in tall, of medium build, and has short, fair hair. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with blue and white horizontal stripes.

PC Chris French said: “This kind of violent attack is extremely unusual for Woodstock. We need to find this group of young men and in particular the one who led the attack.

“Were you in Woodstock on Friday night and saw this assault or this group of youths behaving aggressively in the Market Square? If so, please contact me.

“I would also like to find the young man who was attacked in the first instance. He is a key witness and may have been the victim of a crime himself; I urge him to come forward.”

PC French can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don’t want to talk to police and don’t want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.