Man suffers head injuries near Cheltenham Festival

The incident happened on Portland Street, Cheltenham

A man in his 50s is in hospital with a serious head injury after being assaulted on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The incident happened on Portland Street in Cheltenham, at about 18:50 GMT on Tuesday.

A 28-year-old man from the Telford area has been arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail.

The Cheltenham Festival sees thousands of people descend on the town for four days of horse racing.

Gloucestershire Police said it received reports of a man throwing a drink into the face of the victim, before a second man punched him to the floor unconscious.

The victim was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where he remains.

Officers are now appealing for anyone with information or mobile phone footage of the incident to get in touch.

They are particularly keen to speak to a man in a distinctive purple suit, who is believed to have been at the scene at the time.