Sussex Police want to speak to a man who may have seen an altercation between street drinkers and van drivers.

Officers are investigating an incident where two men got out of a van in Kings Road, Brighton, and allegedly stole a mobile phone from street drinkers gathered at a shelter near to Norfolk Street on Monday September 8 at around 2am.

Two days later at 12.30am on the Wednesday, street drinkers and the two men clashed again.

One of the drinkers, a 58-year old man, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, but was later released without charge while a 40-year old from Middlesex who left the van was arrested on suspicion of common assault, damaging his police cell, and assaulting a police custody staff member.

He has been bailed until October 16.

The other van van, a 50-year old from Whitton, Middlesex, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and was bailed until October 9.

PC Sue Williams said; "The background to these incidents is not clear at present and we are still working to establish the full circumstances.

"That passer-by, of whom we currently have no description, and anyone else who saw what happened on either occasion, is asked to contact Sussex Police via 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting serial 24 of 10/09”.