A TEENAGE boy was attacked in Southampton as he made his way home from a night out.

The attacker first punched the youngster in the face before repeatedly kicking him as he lay on the ground, before trying to steal the youth's moped.

The attack stopped only when a passing policeman saw the incident, close to the Ice public house in Warren Avenue, and intervened.

The 16-year-old victim told police that he had stopped to let his attacker cross the road in front of him, but as the man was crossing he suddenly launched the attack.

The man is described as white, 6ft, slim and in his late 20s to early 30s. He had short brown hair and a long thin face with a stubbly beard.