AN ATTACK on an elderly man walking his dog has been condemned as "horrific" by police.The 67-year-old Clacton man was in the Wellesley Road car park area of his home town at about 6.

AN ATTACK on an elderly man walking his dog has been condemned as "horrific" by police.

The 67-year-old Clacton man was in the Wellesley Road car park area of his home town at about 6.20pm on Christmas Eve when a group of four or five youths, all males and aged about 15, demanded money and his mobile phone.

When they realised he had neither they punched him. There are also unconfirmed reports they kicked his dog.

The man went home but collapsed later and was taken to Colchester General Hospital at about 8.45pm by ambulance. He was kept in overnight but discharged on Christmas Day with a broken cheek bone, an injured jaw and badly bruised face. He had also lost a few teeth.

Insp Paul Butcher, of Clacton Police, said: "It was a horrific incident and absolutely disgusting that anybody could behave that way, particularly at Christmas.

"We are determined to get the people responsible and would ask any witnesses to come forward."

Anyone with any information or who was in the area at the time should call Clacton CID on 01255 221312.