POLICE are continuing investigations to trace a man who assaulted a 21-year-old woman in Stroud by hitting her with a guitar.

The victim sustained a significant cut to the head and required treatment at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

A verbal altercation occurred between the victim and offender, before it escalated into the man becoming violent, shortly before 5pm on Wednesday, September 21 in Bank Gardens.

Youth workers were handing out lollipops to young people in the area when the altercation started, according to an eyewitness.

The man was reportedly seen hitting the woman over the head with a guitar.

A friend of the victim, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The man was playing the guitar when he became angry because youth workers were giving out lollipops to young people but not to others.”

After the victim approached the man, an altercation followed leading to the man becoming violent, according to witnesses.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police said: “Officers have spoken to numerous witnesses but are still encouraging anyone else with information to come forward.

“Many members of the public were in the area at the time and some may have even filmed the incident.”

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information or footage should call police on 101 quoting incident 312 of 21 September.