Lancaster police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted in an unprovoked attack in the city centre.

Around 2.00 am on Sunday 16th December 2012, a 52-year-old man was walking along Market Street when he noticed a man and woman arguing on Horseshoe Corner.

As he passed them by, he turned to see if the woman was all right – at which point the man lunged and punched him several times in the face, knocking him to the floor.

The man is described as white, aged in his early 20s with short, dark brown hair and was wearing a black jumper and jeans.

Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to.

PC Sally Ward said: “This was an unprovoked attack and we need to find the person responsible.

“If anybody thinks they know who the man in the CCTV is then I would urge them to come forward as we would like to speak with him in connection with this incident.”

Anybody with any information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org.