A teenage boy has been charged with grievous bodily harm following a serious and unprovoked assault on a ticket inspector.

The 16-year-old boy will appear in court next month charged with carrying out the attack, which happened at Snodland train station on Monday afternoon.

A 27-year-old man, employed by Southeastern, was taken to Maidstone Hospital with a number of injuries to his face and body.

British Transport Police were called to the scene at 3.20pm following reports of an attack on an on-duty ticket inspector at the entrance to the High Street station.

The assailant was arrested and charged later the same day.

He has been released on conditional bail and will appear at Sevenoaks Youth Court next month.

The victim, who received a cut to his ear and bruising to his head and body, has since been discharged from hospital.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "The attack was unprovoked, the inspector was not dealing with the assailant at the the time. He has not yet returned to work."

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “Our officers were called to Snodland railway station at 3.20pm on Monday, 20 October, following reports that a member of rail staff had been assaulted.

“A 16-year-old boy, from the local area, was arrested later the same day and interviewed under caution.

"He was subsequently charged with GBH. He has been released on conditional police bail, to appear at Sevenoaks Youth Court on Thursday, 13 November."