Police are appealing for witnesses to an apparent homophobic attack that happened in Brighton during the early hours of Wednesday October 7.

The victims, two local women aged 18 and 22, were walking hand in hand along Gloucester Place, towards its junction with Kemp Street, when they were verbally abused by a group of three men.

When they stopped and turned to face the group, two of the men then attacked them, punching both in the head. The couple appealed to the third man, who had a large brown dog with him, to stop his companions, but he took no action. All three then walked off in the direction of Queen's Road.

Two of the men have been described as white, 5' 8" and in their early 20s, one of them with short, spiky hair and wearing a white T-shirt. The third man was tanned, of slim build, in his early 20s and wearing a black T-shirt.

Police are asking for anyone who might have witnessed the attack, who saw the three men in the area around 3am on October 7 or who might have information about the suspects, to contact them on 0845 60 70 999 quoting reference 108 of 07/10.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.