A 34-year-old man was beaten and kicked to the ground after going to the aid of a friend who had been attacked on Margate seafront.

The victim, from Westgate, near Margate, was walking home with the 36-year-old man from Bath after a night out when the visitor was assaulted in Arlington Square. His assailant then turned on the other man and left him with fractured ribs and cuts and bruises to his face.

The attack happened in the early hours of last Friday. Shortly afterwards, at about 2.45am, the victim was in Hawley Street when he saw the people he believed had attacked him. He went to talk with them and was beaten again.

Police say the main attacker from a group of six men was in his mid forties, stocky with cropped hair, and wore a light blue tee shirt.

Anyone who saw either attack is asked to telephone Det Con Pip Harvey at Thanet police headquarters at Margate on 01843 222146