Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a man was assaulted and his van damaged in Beaminster.

At around 2.45pm on Monday, March 7, the victim - a Bridport man in his 50s - was unloading his van while it was parked in The Square.

He was approached by an elderly man on crutches, who told him that he was not allowed to park there.

The victim continued to unload materials from his van and when he returned, he discovered it had been moved approximately 20 metres down the road and damage had been caused to the windscreen and bodywork.

It is reported that when the victim confronted the man, he became verbally abusive and hit the victim with his crutch, causing bruising.

The man is described as white, aged in his late 60s or early 70s, six feet tall and was wearing a hat, grey trousers and a grey fleece. He was carrying a light grey and orange back pack with mesh on it.

Police Community Support Investigator Dermot Shanahan, of Dorset Police, said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed what happened and has not already spoken to police to please get in touch.

"I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who recognises the man from the description given."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55220037583.