A 46-year-old motorist was repeatedly punched in the face at Sunbury Cross traffic lights in an apparently motiveless attack.

He was queueing in the middle lane of Station Road when a youth of about 16 or 17 got out of a silver Ford and approached the victim's silver Toyota Previa and asked him to lower the window so they could speak. As soon as the victim did as asked, the teenager punched him several times in the face, causing a black eye and a cut to his right ear. The suspect, who was white with short straight blond hair and wearing blue combat trousers and a black shirt, got back in his car and drove off towards Feltham.

Detectives are concerned about the attack, which took place on January 20 at about 3.30pm, and are urgently looking for witnesses to come forward. Detective Constable Michael Cresswell, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a nasty incident where an innocent man has become the victim of a completely unprovoked attack.

"The area would have been busy at the time of the offence, so I'm sure such a prominent incident would have been witnessed by a large number of pedestrians and drivers. "We need the public to help track down this individual and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward. I want to assure residents everything possible will be done to bring this suspect to justice."

The incident comes after we reported a how a new Surrey Police 'crime mapping website reveals violent crime in Spelthorne is above the county average. Despite this, however, DC Cresswell said Spelthorne remains "one of the safest places in the country".

Anyone with any information should contact DC Cresswell at Staines CID on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference SL/09/583 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.