A 65-year-old ex-Gurkha has left hospital after being left unconscious for several days in an unprovoked attack.

The man was assaulted at 5.45am on Christmas Eve in south Ashford, as he walked from his nearby home to work as a cleaner at the Tesco store in Hythe Road.

A jogger punched him in the face and the victim broke his hand and cracked his skull as he fell to the ground while he walked along the Beaver Road cycle path alongside the Eurostar car park.

He suffered a fractured skull, broken arm and cuts and bruises to his face. He was discharged from the William Harvey Hospital on Tuesday.

Shortly before the incident a 30-year-old man was walking home with a friend nearby.

As they turned into Godfrey Walk, near the Beaver Road barrier, they saw two men walking towards them on the opposite side of the road.

One was speaking on a mobile phone and appeared to be very angry.

Then the other man crossed the road and punched the victim in the face fracturing his cheekbone.

Both attacks appear to be motiveless and unprovoked, and police believe they are linked.

The man who attacked the 65-year-old is described by police as white and aged between 22 and 25.

One of the men who attacked the 30-year-old is described as white, aged 25-30, 5ft 5ins tall, slight build and wearing grey clothing.

His companion, who was speaking on his mobile phone, is described as white, aged 20, 6ft tall, heavy build, short dark brown hair and wearing a black short sleeve t-shirt with white stripes.

Police urge to anyone who was in the area during the early hours of Christmas Eve or who may have information to call them on 01303 289180.