POLICE are appealing for information after a young man was subjected to an unprovoked attack on a bus.

The 23-year-old victim was on the upper deck of a Wilts & Dorset bus heading out of Downton towards Salisbury on October 31 at 11.55am when he opened a window vent slightly.

Another man got up and closed it and when the victim reopened it, punched him several times in the face.

A third passenger intervened and the assailant sat back down with a female friend before they both got off the bus at the New Canal stop outside the Odeon cinema.

The suspect is described as white, slim build, aged 50 to 60, with short greying hair. PC Graham Briant of Salisbury Police said: "It doesn't make sense how the harmless act of opening a window vent can cause someone to respond in such an extreme way and launch into an act of violence on busy public transport. “The victim didn't fight back and although he was not injured he was very shaken and embarrassed.”

Police are keen to speak to any of the other passengers who were on the bus at the time of the incident. Contact PC Briant on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.