A MAN was violently head-butted during a scuffle with two attackers who attempted to rob him at York railway station.

The men accosted the victim at a cash machine on the station concourse and tried to grab money from his hand.

There was a struggle in which one of the assailants head-butted the man causing minor injuries, before he managed to escape.

The injured man later received treatment for injuries to a ligament in his hand which was torn during the fracas.

PC Steve Duck, of York British Transport Police, said officers would like to speak to two men about the attack in the early hours of Monday, May 26. He has issued a description of both men. The first, pictured, is white, aged between 23 and 28, 5ft 11in tall, of medium build, with a York accent.

He had very dark brown hair with no parting and a square face with a spotty complexion around his mouth and chin. He was wearing a black satin bomber jacket. The second man is described as white, well-built, about 6ft 4in tall, with mousy brown hair.

PC Duck, who is leading the inquiry, said violent assaults on the railway system did happen, but were relatively uncommon.

He said: "We take all incidents of violence extremely seriously and would appeal to members of the public to come forward with any information they might have.

"The attack occurred in the early hours, but trains were still running and it is quite possible that a passenger saw the men before or after the attack.

"Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, could be of vital importance to our investigation."

Any person with information about the attack, or who may recognise either description, is asked to phone British Transport Police on 0800 405040.

Meanwhile, schoolgirls reported a man dressed in paint-splattered clothes committing a lewd act close to a cricket pavilion off Knavesmire Road, South Bank, York. The man was seen behind the building on a grass area known locally as Little Knavesmire at about 9am yesterday. The man is described as white, tanned and in his 30s. He was wearing a blue Adidas top and white trousers.

Anyone with information is asked to phone York Police on 01904 6321321.

Updated: 12:55 Friday, June 06, 2003