POLICE are hunting a gang after a man was hit with a bottle and punched and kicked in an attack in Colchester town centre.

The victim was in a car with his family in St John's Street when one of a group of about eight teenage boys threw a snowball at the windscreen.

He got out to speak to the group and was attacked. He was kicked in the head and suffered a cut.

PC Jamie Horton, of Colchester police, said: “This was totally unnecessary violence and it is lucky the man’s injuries were not more serious.

“This was very upsetting for the man’s family, including his two young children who were sat in the back of the car. The group knew the family were there as they heard the children crying.”

He added throwing snowballs at moving traffic was “extremely dangerous”.

“This was an astonishingly stupid thing to do and could have had far worse consequences,” PC Horton said. “Anyone found behaving in this way will be dealt with firmly.”

After attacking the man, who was in a red Ford Mondeo car, the group made off down Abbey Gate subway, heading towards Butt Road.

The main suspect is described as white, in his late teens, of medium build and clean shaven.

He was wearing black clothing and a distinctive black woolly hat which had a skull design on the front.

PC Horton said: “We are very keen to hear from anyone who may be able to help us with our investigation and would appeal to anyone who saw what took place to get in touch.”

Anyone with information about the attack at 5.15pm on Saturday should call him at Colchester police station on 0300 3334444.