Police have appealed for witnesses after a visitor to Deal was punched in the face in a town centre pub.

The incident, at the Walmer Castle pub in South Street, took place between 2am and 2.30am on Sunday, August 3. It has left him the 20 year-old man with a black eye and scratches on his face.

A relative of the victim, Stephanie Hayman, left a comment on the East Kent Mercury’s Facebook page telling readers about the assault.

She said: “This weekend two generations of my cousins came to visit Deal from Ireland.

“My five lovely cousins came home for a visit to mark the 40th anniversary of the year they left after their dad died tragically young and their mum took them home to be near her own family.

“What sort of people do this?" Stephanie Hayman, cousin of the victiim

“They love Deal, we’ve all stayed in touch over the years and this weekend they brought their sons and daughters to visit the town they still love.

“Last night some of the young cousins went to the Walmer Castle pub. I’m shocked, saddened and disgusted to say that one was attacked, without any provocation, inside the pub, by a group of men who were allegedly part of a wedding party. They beat him up.”

Kent Police spokesman Jon Green said: “A 20-year-old man was on the dance floor when he accidentally bumped into another man.

“As he turned around to apologise, he was punched in the face.

“Police are following a number of leads and studying CCTV footage.”

Mrs Hayman, known locally as one of the businesswomen who started the Whole School Meals social enterprise, added: “What sort of people do this?

“I, for one, won’t rest until the culprits are prosecuted.”

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information is asked to contact PC Dale Skelton on 101 quoting crime ref: ZY/025567/14.