A MAN lost several teeth and needed stitches in his face after a vicious catapult attack in a town centre.

The 30-year-old victim was on his way home when he was struck by an unknown object in Commercial Road, Totton.

Police say that the attacker, who was white and in his 20s, jumped out from behind a wall near a video rental store before firing the catapult.

PC Rob Harnett, of Hythe police station, said: “This is an isolated incident and an attack such as this is an extremely rare occurrence in the New Forest area.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the incident and may have seen what happened to contact us.”

Anyone with information about the assault, which happened at about 1am on January 1, should contact Hythe police station on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.