A woman was punched and kicked in a racist attack while fellow bus passengers watched without helping her.

The 66-year-old woman was knocked to the ground as she waited in a bus queue.

But when a bus arrived, the passengers climbed on board and left the victim on the pavement.

She was too traumatised to board the bus. Police today urged the passengers to come forward to help identify the skinhead offender.

Detective Constable Jock McGorry, of the Brighton and Hove police Anti Victimisation Unit (AVU), said: "We are making no judgements and we are not condemning those other passengers in any way.

"But it is vitally important they come forward and help us trace this man."

The attacker walked straight up to her and swore before punching her in the upper body. He made no racist remarks but police have recorded it as a racist attack because the woman was the only black person in the queue.

She was waiting for a number seven bus in Dyke Road, near the junction with Western Road, Brighton, opposite Pizza Hut, when the attacker struck on October 25.

He was white, 28 to 30, 5ft 8in with powerful shoulders, heavily built with a shaved head.

He wore a ring in his right eyebrow, a silver ring in his bottom lip, large silver rings in each ear lobe, small rings in the top of his left ear, and a dark-coloured mark, possibly a tattoo, between his eyebrows. He wore off-white trousers and dark boots.

Detective Sergeant Phil Aldred said: "This was a vicious, unprovoked racist assault and we are treating it very seriously.

"We are interested in hearing from staff at tattoo and piercing parlours who may have seen this man as a customer."

Anyone with information should call the AVU on 01273 665502 or 01273 665802.