A man received a fractured skull and three broken fingers after he was viciously assaulted by thugs in Woodford Green.

The 32-year-old also received 20 stitches after he was set upon with a baseball bat by two men near Ashton Playing Fields, Chigwell Road, between 10.30pm and 10.45pm on Friday.

He was released from hospital over the weekend.

Now police are launching an appeal for witnesses who may be able to help track down his attackers.

The pair made off with the victim's mobile phone and wallet.

The man was walking from Woodford tube station down Snakes Lane when he noticed a black man standing at the bus stop. As he walked by, the man reached out towards him as if to try and grab something from him.

An Ilford police spokeswoman said: "The victim continued walking and as he got near the Ashton Playing Fields, he saw the same man with another man getting out of a dark-coloured vehicle.

"They began to attack him with a baseball bat, hitting him over the head several times and he collapsed to the ground.

"They kicked and punched him and grabbed his mobile phone and wallet outside UK Windows and Doors in Chigwell Road.

"This was a nasty attack and we are keen to hear from any witnesses who may help us track down the two attackers." The two men are believed to be aged between 18 to 20 years, of either black or of mixed race. The vehicle they were driving was a black Ford Focus.