A woman fought off three men who attacked her at the entrance to Eastbourne Pier.

The 25-year-old started talking to a man as she waited with friends to leave the Atlantis night club on the pier.

He followed her to a phone box on Grand Parade, where two other men pulled her hair back and pushed her down the stairs at the side of the pier.

The woman, who has not been named, screamed but was repeatedly punched in the face by the first man, who kept telling her to shut up.

She continued to yell before the men, all with foreign accents, fled along the promenade.

She suffered bruising and swelling to her face, a cut nose and grazing to her hands and knees but did not need hospital treatment.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "This incident could have been much more serious and we are therefore putting all efforts into tracing these men.

"The pier was busier than a normal Saturday night as this was the evening when England faced Greece in the World Cup Qualifiers.

"It is possible the three men were acting suspiciously before the incident.

"The woman courageously fought off the men so her screams must have been heard by others leaving the pier at the time."

Anyone with information is asked to call the East Downs Response Team on 0845 6070999.