A vicious, unprovoked attack on a Maldon man has left him needing an operation on his face.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault which happened when Christopher Cumbers, 42, had gone to buy food at the kebab shop in Mill Road, Maldon on Friday night.

"I haven't got a clue what happened," said Mr Cumbers.

"I had gone to get some food and on the way between the kebab shop in Mill Road and the Prom corner I was attacked, I don't know by how many.

"I remember I had a Dennis the Menace jumper on and someone shouted ''Oi, Dennis''.

''The next thing I remember I was in an ambulance."

Mr Cumbers managed to crawl to a friend's house covered in blood and he was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford for treatment.

He will now need an operation on the right side of his face below the eye socket which has been pushed in. His leg was also hurt in the attack.

"I'm 6ft 2in and 141/2 stone. It was a good job it wasn't someone old and frail," said Mr Cumbers, who is an architectural technologist.

He hopes someone will come forward with information about what happened.

He also fears the area near the Prom park is becoming a problem with shouting and violence on weekend evenings.

Insp Ian Weller, of Maldon Police, said: "It would appear to be a straightforward unprovoked assault.

''We don't know how many people were involved.

"We have been looking at the High Street more closely over the last few weeks in respect of nuisance, but the area down Mill Road and Park Drive is not one we are necessarily aware of."

The incident happened just before midnight on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Anne Cameron between 10am to 3pm on 01621 875805 at the temporary police office or Maldon Police on 01621 852255, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Christopher Cumbers, who is facing an eye operation after the unprovoked attack.

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