Police are probing a violent assault in Weymouth in which a man was knocked unconscious in an apparent unprovoked attack.

Officers are appealing for witnesses in the hope of identifying the attacker.

It happened at just after 8.30pm of Tuesday of this week at the junction of Chickerell Road and Marsh Road, near the old railway tunnel.

The victim was a man in his 30s from Weymouth. It is reported that another man assaulted him, knocking him unconscious.

He was rushed to hospital to be treated for a head injury and has since been released.

The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the Weymouth area over the past few months.

However Dorset Police has said that crime is actually down and that Weymouth remains a safe place.

Cllr Graham Winter, Mayor of Weymouth, expressed his sympathies with the victim and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

He said: "I just regret that things like this happen every now and again. My sympathies with the victim, and if anyone has any information, they should contact the police as soon as possible.

While saying that the town is mostly a safe place, he also expressed regret that such incidents can happen at times.

Cllr Winter added: "It is very unfortunate that we have some elements of the population that act in an anti-social way."

The perpetrator is described as being white and of stocky build. He was said to be riding a mountain bike with two individual LED lights on the front.

Police Constable Andy Dickinson, of Weymouth police, said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to please get in touch.

"I am also keen to hear from any motorists who were driving in the area at the time and may have captured anything relevant on dashcam."

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 occurrence number 55190186652. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org