THIS is the horrific eye injury a 61-year-old man suffered when a gang of youths surrounded him and launched a horrific attack.

The man was walking along Reading Bridge on October 4 when a group of teenage thugs on bicycles began cycling around him.

When the man asked the youngsters to stop, one of the gang punched him in the face, leaving him with a severe eye injury.

Police officers investigating the case are yet to track down any of the youngsters responsible and the victim has now been released from hospital.

The attacker was described as a mixed raced boy, aged around 15 or 16 and was 6ft tall. He was riding an orange Readybike at the time of the incident, shortly after 11pm.

A police spokesman said: "The victim was walking from the railway station towards Caversham when he was approached by a group of youths, some of whom were on bicycles.

"They rode their bikes around him and when he asked them to stop, one of the group assaulted him by punching him in the face.

"The victim was taken to hospital with a serious eye injury. He has since been discharged but will require surgery as a result of the incident."

Another member of the gang was described as a black boy, of a similar age to the attacker and around 5ft 6ins. He was stocky with black hair which was short at the sides and long on the top.

Police believe a white boy on an orange Readybike, a short white girl aged around 14 and another young white boy and girl were also involved.

Detective constable Holly Stodhard added: "As the picture shows, the victim sustained a very serious injury as a result of this assault, and he has understandably been left traumatised by this ordeal.

"This was a concerning incident, which was completely unprovoked, and I would like to appeal again for anyone who has any information about it to get in touch.

"I would like to reiterate that we are only looking for one offender in relation to this incident, but we know that there were people present who witnessed the assault.

"If you saw this incident, or if you recognise any of the people described, please call the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number on 101 and quote reference 43170294813."