A 55-year-old Sikh was beaten with a metal pole in a racially motivated attack by four masked men on Christmas Day, police have revealed.

One of the men hit the victim on the head and knocked off his turban as he was walking through the Braunstone estate in Leicester.

The man was then struck with a metal pole and the others kicked him while he lay on the ground.

Officers have only recently been able to speak to the victim.

'Very distressed'

Investigating officer Pc Louise Rooke said: "The victim spent a week in hospital with a head injury and bruising to his body.

"This was a vicious attack and the victim is understandably very distressed by the incident. He told us that he had always lived peacefully on the estate but is frightened by what these men did to him."

All four wore balaclavas.

The first man was described as white, about 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall and slim. He was wearing a dark coat and trousers.

The victim described the second man as white, about 4ft 2in (1.27m) tall, chubby and muscular. He was wearing a short brown jacket with big buttons.

The others were a dark-skinned man, about 5ft 5in (1.65m) tall, wearing a knee-length black coat; and a white man, about the same height, who was wearing a black coat which came to just above the knee.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the men or who can identify them. [Link]