POLICE investigating a fight which started at a Christchurch restaurant and bar have appealed for witnesses.

A man was hit in the face with a large pebble and suffered a fractured foot in the incident outside The Boathouse in Quay Road on Saturday.

Police hope to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the assault, which took place at 6.40pm.

They also believe some people may have filmed the incident on their mobile phones.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said officers called to The Boathouse were told that the two men involved had left.

"Around five minutes later a further report was received of an altercation involving the two men from the previous incident and a woman on Quay Road at the junction with Princess Avenue" said the spokesman. " It is alleged that one of the men was hit in the face with a large pebble."

A local man aged in his 20s was taken to hospital for treatment to a fractured foot, a cut to his lip and injuries to his head.

A 26-year-old man from Hampshire was arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm, affray and assaulting an emergency worker. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Detective Constable Sam Knight, of Bournemouth CID, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken to police to please get in touch.

“I understand some people in the area filmed the reported assault on their mobile phones and I would urge them to please send this footage to us to assist with our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.