Christmas was cancelled for a Weymouth man who was beaten up on Christmas Eve and left unable to eat solid food.

Mark Vine, 60, left The Tides Inn on King Street in Weymouth at around 5pm with his daughter’s partner.

The pair were going home to celebrate Christmas with their family, when they were viciously assaulted.

According to Mr Vine, he had walked about four steps out of the pub when he was punched in the face.

He said: “I never saw the punch coming and have no idea why they did it.

“Christmas was cancelled completely in our household. I won’t be able to eat solids for weeks to come. Nor will my mate.”

Mr Vine is known in the town for passionately promoting and writing about local history, including the events in Weymouth during the English Civil War.

He helps to organise the Crabchurch Conspiracy commemorative weekend which sees enthusiasts from all over the country gather in Weymouth.

Mr Vine said he was was knocked over by the punch and kicked while on the ground. He has been left with a broken nose and two black eyes, and his daughter’s partner was left with a broken jaw and was taken to Poole Hospital for an operation.

He said: “My nose is broken and my dental bridge is very loose and both eyes are black. There is bruising on various parts of my body from the subsequent kicking on the floor after the initial punch.

“My mate had his jaw broken in two places and had to undergo an operation to put pins in it.”

Mr Vine said his memory of the incident is ‘sketchy’ because he became unconscious after the attack, but he has praised police who he said arrived at the scene immediately after the attack.

Police were called at around 5.10pm on Sunday, December 24 to reports of a disturbance in King Street.

Officers attended and found two injured men outside the Eats and Drinks store. They were both taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.

It was reported that the two victims had been assaulted by two other men. One was described as white, aged in his early 30s, around six feet, of slim build with short dark hair and was clean shaven. He was wearing a dark coloured jumper.

The other suspect is described as white, in his early 20s, around six feet two inches and of slim build with blond hair. He was wearing a blue hooded top.

Dorset Police are investigating the incident and detectives have asked for the public’s help.

Detective Sergeant Dave Horn, of Weymouth CID, said: “We have made a number of enquiries into this incident, including a trawl of CCTV footage in the area.

“I understand there will have been a number of people in the area around the time of the incident and I am appealing to any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to contact us immediately.

“I would also ask for anyone with information that can assist our investigation to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55170198752. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org

The Tides Inn in Weymouth has asked us to make clear that the assault on Mark Vine was not connected to the pub. We are happy to make this clear.