A MAN had to undergo surgery on a fractured hip after he was pushed into a road and kicked several times in an attack near a pub in Poole.

The victim, a 65-year-old man, was leaving The Cockleshell pub in the direction of Prosperous Street at around 6.20pm on Saturday, February 15, when a man approached him and the two got into a verbal altercation.

It was reported that the man pushed the victim into the road and kicked several times in the stomach and ribs.

The victim was taken to hospital and has since had surgery for a fractured hip as a result of the incident.

The offender is described as white and aged in his 30s. He was wearing a grey baseball cap, grey jumper and grey jogging bottoms.

It is believed the offender then made off in a white transit van.

Officers investigating the assault released CCTV images of two people they wanted to speak to as witnesses.

PC Charlotte Curry said: “I appreciate this incident happened some time ago, but we have now been able to obtain a full statement from the victim and are continuing to make enquiries to ascertain the identity of the offender.

“I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident to please get in touch. I am especially keen to hear from the two men pictured as they may have been in the area at the time and seen what happened. I would like to stress that we are looking to speak to these people purely as witnesses.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting reference number 55200024308.

In an update to their initial release, Dorset Police said a man who was being sought purely as a witness had come forward.