A man sitting on a park bench was spat on before being punched to the ground and kicked by thugs during a racist attack.
Police say the "nasty and unprovoked assault" took place after he was approached as he sat on a bench "minding his own business" in Webster Park on Cherryfield Drive.
The sickening scenes began when he was approached by two males and a female.
Police said the female spat at the victim.
The gang were then joined by two other males on bikes who launched an unprovoked attack on the man in what police are treating as a "racially aggravated assault".
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "At around 8pm on Wednesday 3rd March a man was sitting on a bench in Webster Park on Cherryfield Drive when he was approached by two males and a female. The female spat at the man.
"Two other males, on bicycles, who are nearby then started talking to the other group before punching the man to the ground and kicking him to the body. All five then ran away."
Fortunately the man was not seriously injured but was left shaken by his ordeal.
Police have not given details of the racist element of the attack.
A witness appeal has been launched.
The female is described as white, aged 30, short, of skinny build and wearing a yellow jacket. The first male on a bicycle is described as being white, aged 27, short, of skinny build and wearing a hat and a grey jumper. The second male on a bike is taller and of bigger build than the first and wearing a black jacket.
One of the males who was with the female is described as tall and skinny and wearing a hat and black jacket. The second is of medium height, wearing a grey T-shirt and black jacket.
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Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said: “This was a nasty and unprovoked assault on a man who was sitting in the park minding his own business. This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information which could assist our investigation to get in touch.”
Officers would like to find anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information about the people responsible to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 21000138483.
