POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a couple were assaulted by a man they had offered a lift to while driving between Newton Abbot and Totnes.

The husband and wife were travelling along the A381 at around 10.45pm on Saturday, October 17, when they noticed an intoxicated man walking along the unlit road.

Concerned for his welfare, the couple stopped and offered the man a lift.

He was initially grateful for their help, but later became agitated and aggressive, police said.

The man then assaulted the woman, who was driving the vehicle.

The driver stopped the car on Five Lanes Road in Marldon and asked the man to get out.

However, he refused and began punching and kicking both the husband and wife, leaving them with injuries.

Police have described the suspect as a white man in his mid-30s, between 5ft 10ins and 6ft tall, with an average to athletic build, short brown hair and no facial hair.

He was wearing a grey jacket and a white shirt, and had existing injuries to his face.

Officers investigating the incident are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or who may have dash-cam or CCTV footage from the A381 and Five Lanes Road areas between 10.45pm and 11.15pm that evening.

Police believe two vehicles stopped in the area of Five Lanes Road during the incident and say their occupants may have witnessed what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or report information via the police website, quoting reference 50260283877