A motorist lost eight teeth in a double attack by a pedestrian in the city centre.

Chartered surveyor George Hinks, 53, was punched in the face twice by a man in West Street, Brighton.

The attacker said Mr Hinks's car had struck his black labrador dog.

He lost one tooth at the scene of the attack and has since had seven removed by his dentist.

Mr Hinks, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, was attending a conference in Brighton and was driving back to his hotel with his partner, 54.

He said he saw a man with a dog on the side of the road and drove slowly past, giving a wide berth to avoid hitting the animal.

Mr Hinks was stopped at traffic lights when his car door opened and the man accused him of hitting his dog.

He said: "I told him I was not aware I had but if I had then I was very sorry. He then just hit me in the face.

"I drove off and was stopped by a second set of lights up the hill in West Street. He did the same again."

PC Luise Tait, of Brighton and Hove police, is appealing for witnesses.

She said: "We are especially keen to talk to a woman who came out of a restaurant in West Street and handed Mr Hinks a napkin tissue for his injuries after the second assault."

The offender is white, 5ft 10in, with dark, short hair.

He wore a black woolly top and a hat.

The attacks happened at about 8.15pm last Wednesday. Anyone with information should contact PC Tait on 0845 6070999.