DETECTIVES have thanked Daily Echo readers for helping to identify nine men they wanted to speak to in connection with a vicious assault at a Dorset railway station.

The pictures were released earlier this month by the British Transport Police following an incident at Parkstone station on Saturday July 21.

They were keen to identify and speak to the individuals about the incident which saw two men knocked unconscious and suffer serious injuries when a fight broke out on one of the station platforms.

One of the men sustained a suspected fractured eye socket, and the other received cuts and bruising to the face and had a tooth knocked out.

Following the appeal, DC Matt Bevan said detectives have been able to track down nine men they were seeking and have made eight arrests.

The men aged between 15 and 24 were arrested between August 1 and 7 on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm following calls which were made by members of the public.

DC Bevan added: “I’d like to pass on my thanks to Daily Echo readers for their overwhelmingly positive response to our appeal, which has led to us identifying who we needed to speak to about the incident and as a result have made eight arrests.”

Those arrested are a 15-year-old, 16-year-old, 17-year-old and three 18-year-olds from Poole, a 24-year-old man from Bournemouth and a 17-year-old from Corfe Mullen .

The men have been bailed pending further enquiries until Wednesday, September 26.