Police are appealing for witnesses after a shopkeeper was assaulted and required stitches to his face.

The shopkeeper tried to prevent a suspected shoplifter from leaving his store in Kings Road, St Leonards.

The attacker, a young man who was wearing grey trousers, a grey top and a black hooded jumper, then struck the worker, causing a wound to his face that required stitches.

He then walked into a second shop on London Road, where he was also challenged for shoplifting and then reported to have racially abused the shopkeeper.

Officers investigating all reported offences would like to speak to anyone who was in the area between 1pm and 2pm on January 14 and saw what happened, or who might have captured any relevant CCTV, mobile phone, or dash cam footage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 669 of 14/01.

Four men were recently charged in relation to an armed incident in Theaklen Drive, in St Leonards, on January 24.

In Battle, a 21-year-old man was stabbed in the leg last Tuesday.