CCTV images have been released by police investigating a serious assault on a young woman in a Kent town.

The 19-year-old victim suffered serious facial injuries when a man threw a metal railing at her in Maidstone.

The attack happened after the victim and a group of friends were followed by two men after an argument outside the Muggleton Inn in the High Street.

The victim and her friends had walked down the steps to the subway near The River Bar when one of the men picked up a large metal railing and threw it over the bridge at the group, who were 25 feet below.

The railing hit the victim, who is from Sevenoaks, directly in the face, knocking her unconscious and causing her extensive injuries to her mouth and severe swelling to her head.

She will beed months of ongoing reconstructive surgery.

Another girl in the group suffered a blow to the head.

The two men were last seen running off along Tonbridge Road. One is described as white, between 35–40 years in age, wearing a black shirt and dark jeans, of stocky build, with short dark-brown hair.

The second was also a white man of medium build, heavily tattooed, with discoloured teeth and cropped grey hair, around 35-40 years old, 6ft in height and was wearing a light white and blue shirt and light blue jeans.

DC Powell, who is investigating the case, said: "This was a brutal and thoughtless crime which caused the victims severe stress and one of the girls horrific facial injuries.

"The CCTV images we have issued come from the Muggleton Inn, where the two offenders had been drinking that evening."

Anyone with information about this incident, which took place at around 11.15pm on July 11, is asked to contact police on 01622 604180 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.