A Golden Jubilee reveller from Sussex needed surgery to save his sight after he was beaten up by a homophobic attacker.

The 42-year-old also suffered a broken arm and fractured hand in the incident in Oxford Street, London, at 2.30am on Tuesday.

The victim, from Littlehampton, had attended the Jubilee celebrations outside Buckingham Palace the previous night and was walking back to his hotel in Euston.

A man attacked him from behind, punching him several times and kicking him when he fell to the ground. The attacker then fled.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police are treating the attack as homophobic - the attacker was heard by one witness to make comments to that effect - but we do not know if the victim was gay."

The spokesman added: "At this time there is no suggestion the victim approached the attacker in any way. It was an unprovoked attack."

Two police officers found the victim lying in the street near the junction with Portman Street minutes after the attack.

He was taken to University College Hospital where doctors operated successfully to save the sight in one eye.

Later he was transferred to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, where he is still being treated for his injuries.

Police said the assailant - who was white, aged about 28 and between 5ft 10in and 6ft tall - was wearing a white jacket and trousers which would have become bloodstained in the attack.

Anyone with information should call PC Fiona McConnell or Detective Sergeant Glen Lloyd of the Westminster Community Safety Unit on 0207 321 8517 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.