A man required stitches to his head after he was attacked in what police believe was a racially-motivated incident.

The victim, a 22-year-old Latvian man, was walking with a friend near the Moon on the Water pub, in Staines Road, Hounslow, on Monday at about 1am when they moved aside to let two men past.

As the men walked past, one of them pushed the victim into the road causing him to fall to the ground and cut his head.

From comments made during the attack it is believed the incident happened because the attacker believed the victim was Polish.

Hounslow Detective Inspector Alan Holford said: “The friend of the attacker obviously identified straight away that this was an unprovoked attack, which could have had serious consequences had the victim been struck by a vehicle.”

The attacker was a white man aged between 30 and 35 years old, about 5ft 8in and had short dark hair.

Police are keen to talk to the friend of the attacker who is reported to have asked the suspect “Why are you doing this?”

Witnesses should call Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6160 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.