Three thugs are believed to have carried out a spate of late-night attacks.

Officers were called to Brighton city centre in the early hours of Monday morning this week after five reported assaults.

The first was reported at 1.07am in Western Road at the Junction of Montpelier Road where a man said he was approached then punched.

The second was further along at Church Road in Hove, near Albany Villas, at 3.20am where a 28-year-old man was found bleeding from the head.

He said he had been attacked near Churchill Square, and said his iPhone and cash card had been stolen. He remains in hospital after the attack.

Then at 3.51am two men reported being punched in Kings Road at the junction with West Street near the seafront. Both men needed hospital treatment for cuts to their heads.

The fourth attack was reported at 4.07am when two men were assaulted after one of them went to help another man who was being assaulted on Western Road near to Castle Street.

Neither man needed hospital treatment.

Finally at 4.15am the fifth call came in from Kings Road Arches near the Coalition nightclub, where a man was punched in the face and had to be taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose.

Police have issued images of the three men they believe were responsible.

Detective Sergeant David Rose said: “We believe these assaults have all been carried out by the same group of men, who have randomly attacked different and unconnected people across the city.

“Their behaviour is totally unacceptable and we are very keen to trace them.

"The three men are described as white, two in shorts and T-shirts and one in a shirt and tie. One was carrying a JD sports bag."

Anyone who recognises the suspects or has information about the attacks is asked to contact the police online or via 101 and quote serial 150 of 26/06.

Alternatively, report crime anonymously by calling CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.