A gay man has spoken of his fury over a homophobic attacker who punched him as he walked with his partner.

Chris Clarke says the experience has drained his confidence and highlights the problems faced by homosexuals in Brighton.

The 24-year-old, from Preston Park, was outside the Alldays store in Lustrells Vale, Saltdean, when a car approached and a group of men inside started hurling abuse at them.

The Fiat screeched to a halt and a man got out and started threatening the pair, calling them "queers", before hitting Mr Clarke in the face.

Next the attacker turned on his partner, who wishes to remain anonymous, and said, "you can have some too," before punching him to the ground.

He then got back in the car and drove off, leaving the pair with cuts and bruises.

Both men ran behind shops to stay out of sight.

Mr Clarke said: "We hid behind a restaurant and called 999 on my mobile phone but must have waited 30 minutes before the police came.

"We could hear the car looking for us, so after 15 minutes I called 999 again, only to be told it wasn't an emergency."

A police spokesman said the incident was being treated as a homophobic attack.

Anyone with information on the incident, which happened at 11.20pm on Friday, June 13, is asked to call police on 0845 6070999.

A man was arrested following the attack and released on bail, without charge, to return to Brighton police station on July 8.