POLICE are seeking witnesses to a suspected assault on an 85-year-old man in York.

The man suffered a badly bruised eye between the evening of December 17 and December 20 in the shopping area of Acomb.

The man told police he was confronted by a group of youths, but because of his health issues it is not possible to establish from him exactly how or when he received the injury.

A police spokesman said: “To help the police enquiry, we are appealing to anyone who recalls seeing any youths with an elderly man, or the elderly man on his own, possibly with this facial injury, in Acomb last weekend.

“We would especially like to speak to anyone who may have come to his aid or has further information about the incident.”

Contact York CID on 0845 6060247, quoting reference number 12100218328. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.