A MALVERN man was hit with a broken bottle and kicked repeatedly during an unprovoked assault in Malvern Link.

The victim reportedly needed more than 50 stitches to a head wound after being taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Witnesses described seeing six men, who had been drinking at the Bakery Inn, in Worcester Road, launch an attack on the passer-by.

The victim was walking along the pavement opposite the pub when the incident took place, at around 11.15pm last Saturday.

He was hit over the head with the bottle before falling to the ground, where he was repeatedly kicked in the stomach by the men.

One witness said: "They were kicking him so hard that he was actually bouncing off the floor. He was screaming in pain but they didn't stop."

According to witnesses, the trouble had started at the Bakery Inn, where one of the six men had demanded a light for a cigarette from another customer.

After being asked to be more polite, he repeated the demand and was refused.

He then head-butted the customer, fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket.

After hitting another bystander in the pub, who had tried to intervene, the group moved outside where the attack on the passer-by took place.

The men then drove off in a grey Ford Transit-style van, possible with the part registration W_ _ _UTW, from a car park behind the Spice Cuisine restaurant.

Police are studying CCTV footage of the incident and are searching for the six men, who may hail from Yorkshire and are thought to have visited the pub every fortnight.

One is described as being between 40 and 50, the second is 6ft 2in with mousy blonde hair, the third 5ft 8in with dark hair and a moustache, the fourth is tall with dark brown hair and the fifth and sixth, who were described as looking like twins, are in their mid-20s.

A police spokesman said: "These were serious assaults and we're anxious to trace the six men as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should ring police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.