A MAN was punched in the face and knocked unconscious in an unprovoked attack.

The victim, a 56-year-old local man, was attacked outside the Franklin Arms pub in Lewes Road at around midnight on Friday, November 9.

He fell to the ground and hit his head, but refused to be treated by paramedics.

A 22-year-old man from Brighton was arrested in the same road shortly afterwards on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm, being drunk and disorderly in public, criminal damage, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

He has been released investigation pending further enquiries.

A number of people were in the area at the time and police are urging anyone who saw what happened to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 5 of 10/11.

Alternatively, you contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.