POLICE have renewed their appeal for information after a 22-year-old man suffered a broken jaw and serious facial injuries in an assault in Runcorn.

Detectives are particularly keen to speak to a smartly dressed man with long ginger hair who spoke to the victim after he was attacked on the bridge over the Hallwood Park link road at 2.40pm on Monday, January 8,

The victim was walking to the Shell garage on the link road when he was approached by a man.

The man spoke to the 22-year-old before punching him in the face with a knuckleduster, causing him to stumble into the road.

The offender ran off toward Hallwood Park, jumping over a fence into Roberts Court and then onto Falcons Way.

The victim suffered a fractured jaw in two places that required surgery and four screws and two plates to fix.

His row of teeth were ripped from their fixtures, which also needed surgery to correct, and he has been left with permanent nerve damage to his lower lip and tongue.

Cheshire Police are urging the potential to get in touch, along with anyone else who may have information that may help with their investigation.

Detective Constable Nathaniel Walkowiak said: “This was an unprovoked attack that left the victim with serious facial injuries.

“He did not realise how badly injured he was immediately after the assault.

“He declined an offer of help from a smartly dressed man with long ginger hair, went to the Shell garage to withdraw cash and then went to the walk-in centre at Halton Hospital, before being transferred to University Hospital Aintree.

“If you are the man who spoke to the victim after he was assaulted, witnessed the incident or were simply in the area at the time then please get in touch.

“Your help could be crucial to our investigation.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101, quoting incident number 583 of 12 January, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and released under investigation in relation to the incident.