A MAN was injured in a “cowardly attack” outside a Hampshire pub.

The 32-year-old man had been sitting on a wall facing the West End Brewery Pub in High Street, West End, when he was hit in the back of the head.

He fell off the fall and hit his face on a concrete step, fracturing his eye socket. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

Police said the man had been speaking to a group of three men outside the pub earlier in the evening when their discussion became heated and the group was asked to leave by a member of pub staff.

But officers say one of the men was seen running up behind the victim before attacking him just after midnight on Saturday, July 11.

The offender is described as between 20-to-25-years-old, around 5ft 7ins tall, of small to medium build with mousey brown hair.

He was wearing a light coloured t-shirt and shorts.

DC Steve Roman said: “The victim was totally unprepared for this assault to the back of his head, a cowardly attack that could quite easily have been more serious.

“Although this incident happened late at night there may still have been witnesses in the area. If you have any information, please get in touch as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Roman at Southampton Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.