A SALISBURY man was 'dragged' off a bus on the Isle of Wight by Good Samaritan passengers after an alleged assault on two men late on Friday night.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed to the Journal's sister paper the Isle of Wight County Press that a Salisbury man was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released under investigation.

Police boarded a Southern Vectis bus which had stopped at Furrlongs, Newport.

Officers were called at 11.47pm, to reports of an assault on a double decker.

It was reported one man attacked two other men who sustained minor injuries, police said.

An eyewitness on board the bus told the County Press 'passengers got together to drag the man off'.

They said officers then boarded and took statements from passengers.

In a statement, Dave Miller, Southern Vectis assistant operations manager, told the County Press: “There was an incident yesterday evening when a passenger who was smoking refused to leave the bus.

"The police were called and the individual was arrested. We are helping the police as they carry out their investigation.”

A spokesperson for the police force confirmed a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault.

He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.