POLICE are hunting a gang of thugs who carried out an unprovoked and vicious assault on two young men at York Station as they returned home from a night out.

A group of four men getting off yesterday's 3.47am train from Leeds came up behind the pair, who were local men aged 23 and 18, and butted them, causing them to fall to the ground.

The attackers then kicked the men in the head and the body, before running off when the police were called.

One of the victims received serious facial injuries, including a broken nose and bruising.

He also received a bang to the back of his head when he fell against a pillar during the assault.

His face was so badly swollen that doctors at York Hospital could not treat him and he will have to return today. His friend also suffered damage to his ankle and wrist.

PC Nick Storey, of British Transport Police, said the train had arrived at Platform 6 and the attack took place near the stairwell on Platform 5. The train was very busy with clubbers returning from Leeds, so there should have been a number of witnesses.

"This was totally unprovoked and quite a vicious assault," PC Storey said.

"They don't know these lads. They have had no contact with them before."

The assailants were described as white and aged 18 to 19. Investigating officers were studying CCTV footage today to try to obtain more information about their identity.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact PC Storey at British Transport Police on freephone 0800 405040, quoting incident number 111 14/11.

Updated: 10:18 Monday, November 15, 2004