A female rail worker was left with a bleeding nose during a train journey after a group of thugs carried out several assaults on passengers.

Police are examining CCTV footage to help them trace two men and a woman involved in the series of assaults on the 10.23pm Brighton-Littlehampton service.

Although there were no serious injuries, three people were attacked at about 10.30pm on Monday as the train travelled through the Worthing area.

The two males, believed to be drunk, first assaulted a passenger between East Worthing and Worthing stations and stole £2 from him.

The passenger got off the train and the next day made a complaint to police.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police (BTP) said a conductor was later attacked as the train went on to West Worthing station.

He suffered bruising and a swollen lip and his £25 float money was stolen.

She said: "One of them grabbed a big metal pole used to disconnect the electric live rail in an emergency. It has a wooden handle and a metal hook on the end.

"They took that off the train and the conductor tried to take it off them. A struggle ensued and this spilled on to the platform."

The conductor gave up trying to get the pole back and told the driver to take the train out of West Worthing station.

As the train pulled away, the conductor spotted the youths hitting a woman on the platform.

The BTP spokeswoman said: "A member of Brighton railway staff had just finished her shift and she was attacked.

"The conductor saw, stopped the train and came to her assistance. She sustained some bruising to her face and a nosebleed."

Witnesses are asked to contact police on 0845 6070999.