A MAN has been left needing facial surgery after an unprovoked attack as he walked to work at dawn.

Detectives ave issued an urgent plea for witnesses to the violent assault on the 23-year-old man, which left him with a suspected fractured cheekbone and a bloodshot, swollen eye.

The victim was walking alone up Victoria Road in the direction of Old Town at about 6.25am on Saturday, November 3 when two men wearing hoodies approached him.

He was across the road from Papa John’s Pizza when, without saying a word, one of the men punched him in the face before the pair ran off up Victoria Road towards Old Town, leaving their victim on the ground.

Detectives have said they are following several lines of enquiry as to the motive but understand the attackers were not known to the victim.

Detective Sergeant Joe Saunders said: “We have got a number of considerations at the moment and it’s clear to say it is certainly an unprovoked attack. We are still looking into the motive behind it.

“While we do on occasion see violence in the early hours of the morning, 6.25am on a Saturday morning is a particularly unusual time and maybe someone will have seen two men in black hoodies in the area.”

Detective Constable Clare Sylvester-Wyness, of Swindon CID, said: “This was a violent assault on a young man who was minding his own business and making his way to work.

“He was left shocked and in pain after an unprovoked attack and may need surgery to repair the damage done.

“I am very keen to hear from anyone who was driving or walking along Victoria Road at about 6.25am on Saturday who saw the attack or spotted the two men making off afterwards.

“They were wearing black hoodies with the hoods up.”

If you saw the attack or have any information which might lead police to the two men, please call Wiltshire Police on 101 and ask for CID at Gablecross Police Station.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.