Plea for witnesses after attack

Police are seeking witnesses to a brutal assault on a middle-aged man who was hit with a metal bar in central Porirua on Friday afternoon.

Constable Damian Doocey, of Waitangirua CIB, said the attack happened about 2.30pm when four young men attacked a man in his fifties while he was waiting for a bus in Lyttelton Avenue.

"During the attack, the victim was hit on the head from behind by a metal bar," Mr Doocey said.

"As a result of this blow he fell to the ground unconscious. His attackers then kicked him in the head as he lay prone on the ground."

When police arrived, several suspects fled.

Mr Doocey said a 17-year-old man had been arrested and was to appear in Porirua District Court this week.