A MAN has been released on bail after a woman was viciously assaulted and left unconscious during a daylight attack in a Southampton city street.

The 62-year-old suffered a catalogue of appalling injuries including fractured shoulders and two broken arms in the violent assault in Coxford.

She also sustained serious facial injuries and was found covered in blood in Peach Road.

A passer-by made the shocking discovery of the woman curled up on the ground against a fence and called emergency services at about 4pm on Tuesday.

Officers believe she had been drinking at the Mountbatten pub in Lordshill during the afternoon and have taken CCTV footage from the premises as part of the inquiry.

A 57-year-old man has been released on bail after he was arrested by police on suspicion of assault while detectives continue to piece together what happened in the moments immediately before the assault.

They are urging witnesses to come forward to help them with their investigation.

Resident Justin Nailor told the Daily Echo how he was one of the last people to see the woman before she was attacked, having literally bumped in to her as he crossed the road.

He said: “She seemed OK at the time but she was fairly intoxicated. She barged into me but she didn't even see me, she was that far gone.

“There was a man behind her by quite a distance, I thought something was a bit strange.

“Nothing was physically done to her at that time."

Another neighbour, Norman Moore, found her lying on the ground moments later.

He said: “Her face was pretty badly cut. When we came down the road we found her lying in a ball by the fence.

“When she came round properly she was going on about her mobile phone.”

Coxford Councillor Don Thomas who lives around the corner from where the attack happened described it as “absolutely horrible”.

“Living on the doorstep of an incident like this, it really does bring it home. No matter who it is, that sounds like a horrible, nasty attack. It's an absolutely shocking thing to happen in this day and age. I wish the lady well. If anybody's got information then please help the police inquiries.”

Coxford Councillor Keith Morrell described it as a “shocking” incident and urged anyone with information to speak to police.

He said: “I would trust the police to be carrying out all the necessary inquiries to find out who did this and I would be confident that if anyone living in that area and has any information that they think might be useful, they will provide it to police.”

Witnesses are asked to contact Det Sgt Paul Harrison at Southampton Central police station on 101.