Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted in Banbury.

The 38-year-old victim was in Cromwell Road when the incident happened at about 4.10pm on Christmas Eve.

The victim was approached by two men and was involved in a verbal altercation.

This then became physical, when one of the men punched the victim in the head twice, causing him to fall to the floor.

Witnesses to the assault called an ambulance and the man was taken to the Horton Hospital, in Banbury, for treatment. He was subsequently transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, where he remains at this time.

One of the men is described as white, in his mid to late twenties, medium build and between 5ft 7in and 5ft 9in. He was wearing a grey woolly hat, tracksuit bottoms and a grey or blue tracksuit top.

Det Con Mike West, from Banbury CID, said: “This is a very serious incident that has left the victim with serious head injuries that have required prolonged hospital treatment.

“I would like to speak to anyone who was in the area who may have seen the incident, or anyone who may have seen a man matching this description in that area before or after the assault took place.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Con West via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.