Police believe passengers on a bus could help capture a gang who vicously attacked a man outside a tattoo parlour.

The victim was left with serious head injuries in the attack on Shirley High Street in Southampton.

Now officers believe that passengers on a bus which drove past the attack may hold vital clues in finding the three men who staged the attack.

The 31-year-old victim was attacked outside the Momento tattoo parlour, and he sustained head injuries in the attack.

Police say that he remains in hospital, where he is in a serious but stable condition.

Now officers have launched a public appeal in a bid to track down the man's assailants.

They are also specifically appealing to find the person pictured in a CCTV image they have released, who they believe witnessed the attack.

They believe a First Bus travelling north on the street passed the incident on its left hand side, at about 6.45pm on Wednesday.

They believe that one of the passengers may have information which is vital to their investigation.

Detective Sergeant Brett Sanders said: “This was a violent assault on a busy high street. We believe several people witnessed this incident and we are appealing to those people to come forward.

“We are specifically looking for this person pictured in this CCTV image on the bus at this time who we believe witnessed the attack. Is this you?

“Please call 101 and quote 44160271322.”