A MAN was struck with a glass bottle and his girlfriend was punched in the head as they walked home from a New Milton pub last night, say police.

The 23-year-old man and the 22-year-old woman, who are both local to the area, were assaulted after leaving the Rydal public house on Station Road.

See more pictures and video footage in our live coverage of the investigation on Saturday

Police say the attack took place on nearby Barton Court Road at around 1.30am.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: “The man, 23, was hit over the head with a bottle, and his girlfriend, 22, punched in the head.

“They were taken to Bournemouth General Hospital for treatment.”

This morning police cordoned off a section of pavement on Barton Court Road to allow a crime scene investigation officer to analyse the scene.

No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Andrew Bond, manager at the Rydal, said a man was headbutted in the pub’s garden shortly before the incident on Baron Court Road.

“It’s a very sad," he said. "We’ve worked really hard over the past year and a half to improve the pub and we work closely with the police and are part of the pub watch scheme.

“The people involved were asked to leave and will be banned,” he added.

Local residents, who described the area as a quiet and peaceful, said they were shocked to hear about the attack.

Margaret Covington, who has lived on the area for the last seven years: "It's a very quiet residential area. You don't usually hear of things like this around here.”

Meanwhile, police were called to a second assault at around 3.30am on Ashley Road Common at the junction to Poplar Road.

Officers at the scene said one man required hospital treatment following the incident, which is believed to be linked to the Barton Court Road assault.

Local resident Bob Harvey, who has lived in the area for 25 years, said he was woken up by shouting at around 3.15am.

He said: “I looked out of my window and saw two police cars and two people sat on the pavement. They had the police dog out too.”

Anyone who witnessed either assault is urged to contact New Milton Police by calling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.