A 41-YEAR-OLD man was punched in the face at a pub in what police are treating as a racially motivated attack.

He was in the Old Crow Inn, Crow Lane East, Newton-le-Willows when he heard remarks from a table, where three men and a woman were sat.

When he turned to speak with the group, he was punched in the face by a man.

A 21-year-old staff member then intervened and she was also assaulted.

The man was treated for bruising and swelling, while the woman was uninjured but left shaken by her ordeal.

A police spokeswoman said: “The man, thought to have committed the assault, is believed to have arrived at the pub in a black hackney cab, which he was driving.

“It's possible that the cab travelled from the Wirral.”

The offender is described as white, around 6ft tall, with brown curly shoulder length hair.

He was of muscular build and around 25 years old and wearing a dark green tight t-shirt and jeans. He spoke with a Liverpool accent.

The attack is being investigated by specialist officers, who deal solely with incidents of hate crime.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0151 777 6811 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.