A HAMPSHIRE man was today still suffering the after effects of a racist attack in which a substance was squirted in his face.

The 25-year-old was set upon as he and a woman walked along Shirley High Street, Southampton.

The incident happened after the pair walked past a group of ten men between Cannon Street and Shirley police station.

One of the group made a racially offensive remark to the man before spraying a substance, possibly CS spray, directly in his face.

Today Sergeant Andy Jennings, of Shirley police, condemned the assault and said it was being treated as racially motivated.

"This was a totally unprovoked attack. We find this type of racially motivated incident particularly offensive," he added.

The victim, who has not been named but is of Afro-Caribbean origin, needed treatment at Southampton General Hospital.

The incident happened between 11pm and 11.30pm last Saturday but details were not released by police until today.

Police said the attacker was white, aged 25 to 35, chubby, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, clean shaven with medium length brown hair. At the time he wore a dark jacket.

Call Shirley crimedesk on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous crime-stoppers line on 0800 555111.