A man was beaten unconscious and left with a fractured skull in a vicious attack.

Police were alerted after the victim was found lying injured in Gloucester Street.

It was reported that the victim, a 29-year-old man of no fixed abode, had been approached by a group of men and was assaulted by two of them, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.

The group of men were seen to walk off up Great George Street in the direction of Westham Road.

The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance where it was discovered he had sustained a fracture to his skull.

Detectives at Dorset Police have therefore launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses.

The offenders are described as white and aged in their 20s or early 30s. One was wearing a red top and the other was wearing a white top.

Detective Constable Kelly Wood, of Weymouth CID, said: "The victim sustained a nasty injury as a result of this assault and I am keen to identify the men responsible.

"I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to please contact us."

The incident took place at approximately 6.50pm on Saturday, June 10 but police have just released details.

Cllr Jason Osborne, who represents the Melcombe Regis ward, was "completely shocked" to hear about the assault and the fact it happened in broad daylight.

He said: "I would be horrified to hear of anything like this happening on the streets of Weymouth, especially during the holiday season where we have a lot of families enjoying our facilities.

"But to hear that the incident happened in the early evening when it is still very light is really quite shocking, not to condone an assault that happens in the early hours. To do this to someone in broad daylight is appalling.

"I would encourage all businesses and bars in the area to look at their CCTV as someone must have caught something on their system.
"I suspect that this group of men will be on someone's CCTV.

"If they are allowed to get away with it then this will keep happening."

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council briefholder for community safety, Cllr Francis Drake, added: "It is not something we want to happen in Weymouth but unfortunately it does.

"We need to support the police's witness appeal and anyone with information needs to come forward.

"I hope the gentleman is okay and recovers quickly.

"We seem to be having a lot of incidents in Gloucester Street recently. I am very concerned about it and I will be taking it up with the police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting crime number 55170086812.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org