POLICE say they are treating an unprovoked assault on a 34-year-old man on a Kent seafront as a "happy slapping" attack.

The victim was walking with his wife and son from St Mary's Bay to Dymchurch when a youth, aged around 16, ran up behind him and punched him in the eye.

About 30 seconds earlier, the youth had walked past the man with two other boys of about the same age.

The victim tried to grab the offender's leg, but one of the other teenagers started kicking him while he was on the ground.

The youths, one of whom was on a mountain bike, ran off towards St Mary's Bay. Police believe the boy on the bike filmed the attack on a mobile phone.

PC Andy Perham said: "This was an unprovoked assault on a man enjoying a sea front walk with his family."

Anyone with information about the incident, which took place at 4.20pm on Thursday, is asked to contact police on 01303 850055 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.