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Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted in the centre of Bathgate around 9pm on Saturday night.

The man, who is in his 50’s, was waiting with a friend at a taxi rank on King Street near to the Railway Tavern Pub when an unknown male approached himfrom behind before striking him on the head in an apparently unprovoked assault.

The man subsequently fell to the ground having sustained a facial injury requiring medical attention at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

The suspect, who was with a group of males, then left the scene on foot heading towards South Bridge Street before being lost from sight.

Police are now appealing for information and want to hear from anyone who can help identify the him.

He is described as white, around 6ft 2ins tall, stocky build, in his late 20’s or early 30’s, short light brown hair and spoke with a local accent.

Detective Constable Alan Gibson who is based at Livingston police station said: “There were a number of people who would’ve been in the area of the taxi rank around the time of this attack and I would be very interested to hear from anyone who saw the suspect either before, during or after this violent incident.

“This attack appears to have been unprovoked and I can reassure the public that this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and we’re doing everything we can trace him as quickly as possible.”

Those with information are asked to contact police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.