POLICE have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Bournemouth.

An elderly man wearing a light-coloured chequered jacket and blue trousers boarded the M1 bus at around 12.45pm on Saturday, August 12, outside The Christopher Creeke pub on Holdenhurst Road.

He approached a woman who was on the bus with her child and made a number of racist comments.

The man was told to stop by the bus driver, who contacted the police.

He then got off and was challenged by the victim, a man in his 70s, who spoke to the Daily Echo earlier this month about the incident.

The man kicked the victim in the shin three times before walking off and going into The George Tapps pub on Old Christchurch Road.

The victim followed the man to the pub and then went to a nearby internet café, where he contacted the police and told the manager of the café what had happened.

He gave the manager a description of the man and they went into the pub and took a photo of him.

Police Constable Dan Byrne, of Bournemouth police, said: “I am now releasing the image that was taken in the hope that someone recognises the man.

“We have made a number of other enquiries into this incident and I would also urge any witnesses who have not already spoken to police or anyone with information that can assist our investigation to please contact us.”

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 55170124468.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.