A MAN was kicked and punched on the ground while his friend was racially abused during a vicious gang attack in a Hampshire town.

The 28-year-old was walking home from a night out with a 19-year-old woman when three people approached.

They shouted homophobic abuse at the man before two of them launched a brutal attack, knocking him to the ground where the assault continued.

When his friend tried to intervene, the gang hurled racist abuse at her.

The male victim sustained cuts and bruises during the ordeal.

Police say the men are white, aged in their late teens and early 20s and that one of them - in a checked shirt - may have tried to stop the assault.

Now they are looking for witnesses to the assault, which happened on Gordon Road in Gosport at 1.30am on November 5.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Tina Abrams at Fareham CID on 101 or ring the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.