A COUNCIL roadsweeper was attacked and punched in the face when he refused to hand over cigarettes on demand.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the assault on the 52-year-old man as he worked in Dane Park Road, Ramsgate, just after 6am on Saturday.

Two men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, originally approached him in Boundary Road and asked him for cigarettes. He declined and kept working. He walked along Denmark Road to Dane Park Road where he was asked again and then hit when he declined. He required hospital treatment to a two-inch cut to his forehead.

The thugs are said to be about 5ft 8in tall. They were wearing white tracksuit tops and white baseball caps.

Cllr Roger Latchford, Thanet council cabinet member for commercial services, said:

"What have we come to when a member of staff is attacked while doing his job of cleaning up our streets? This was an appalling and unprovoked attack by what I can only describe as thugs and our thoughts are with the victim.

"He has asked us to pass his thanks on to the residents of Dane Park Road who came to his assistance after the attack and called an ambulance for him.

"I find it particularly upsetting, as in recent weeks, since we took the service back in house, we have had so many compliments from residents about the work of our street cleaners and how much better the area is looking. I would urge anyone with any information about this attack to contact the police immediately."

Anyone who saw the incident or can identify the men is asked to contact Det Sgt Mark Dennis at Margate Police Station on 01843 222194.