A teenager suffered a fractured eye socket and cheekbone when he was viciously attacked in a Canterbury subway.

The 17-year-old victim was knocked unconscious from behind as he walked through the St George's underpass leading from New Dover Road to the city centre.

Less than two weeks earlier a man in his 20s was left with a broken jaw when he was assaulted by a gang of six or seven youngsters near Canterbury's Westgate Towers.

The latest attack happened between 3.30pm and 4pm on Friday November 13.

Investigating officer PC Hannah Parker said: "The boy was walking along New Dover Road towards the city centre on Friday afternoon on the opposite side of the road to the cinema.

"As he walked down the slope into the underpass under the St George’s roundabout he says he was struck from behind and briefly knocked unconscious. He did not see who struck him."

The victim caught a train to Faversham before calling an ambulance.

He was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford where he is due to undergo surgery to repair the fractures.

PC Parker said: "I am very keen to establish exactly what happened on Friday afternoon and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information that could help the investigation."

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference ZY/36170/15.

The earlier attack happened on November 3.

The victim and another man were walking near the Westgate Towers at 2am on Sunday, November 1 when they were attacked.

Another man and woman with them were not attacked.

Detective had released descriptions of six of the seven attackers:

• First suspect: white man, 5ft 7ins tall of average build, aged around 18 years old with dark shaved hair and was wearing a black tracksuit and had a skull mask with him.

• Second suspect: White man, 6ft 2ins tall, with broad shoulders and aged around 18 years old. He had a hood up, a black tracksuit and a bandana or scarf covering his face.

• Third suspect: A white man, 6ft tall, with an average build and 6ft tall, around 18 years old. He had short dark hair and was wearing a sky blue tracksuit.

• Fourth suspect: A white man, about 5ft 8ins, with a slim build, around 17 years old. He had a front tooth missing, and had short dark hair. He was wearing a grey hoody and black trousers and had a bruise over one eye.

• Fifth suspect: A white man, around 5ft 8 ins tall, with a slim build and around 16 years old. He had ginger hair and was wearing a tan-coloured tracksuit.

• The sixth suspect was a white man wearing a grey tracksuit and the final suspect was also a white man.

Anyone with information can call police on 01843 222289 quoting ZY/34424/15.