A 70-year-old man has suffered serious head and facial injuries after being punched during an row at a bus stop.

The two men were involved in a fight on the Arriva bus service 1 travelling from Rayleigh to Shoebury at about 2.45pm yesterday, (Saturday April 22).

Both got off at a bus stop in Queensway, outside Southend Victoria train station, where there was a further altercation, during which one of the men, aged 70, was punched and fell to the ground.

He suffered serious head and facial injuries and was taken to hospital.

A 46-year-old man from Southend has been arrested on suspicion of assault and released under investigation.

Investigating officer Dc Victoria Leese said: “I would like to speak to anyone who was travelling on the bus at the time and saw what happened.

“I am particularly keen to speak to a woman who is believed to have been involved in a verbal argument with the older man and got off the bus near The Elms pub in London Road, Leigh-on-Sea.”

Contact Dc Leese at Southend CID on 101. Alternatively, contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.