TWO men were assaulted in the early hours of Saturday morning in separate, unprovoked attacks.

Police believe the attacks, by a group of men, could be linked.

The first happened between 2.30am and 3.30am, on a footpath which runs from Claythorpe Road to Pinkerton Road, South Ham.

A 22-year-old local man was walking home when he was set upon by a group of men.

He was kicked and punched, mainly in the face.

He managed to make it home and called police the following morning.

A couple of hours later, at around 5am, a 19-year-old man was assaulted in St Michael’s Road, South Ham.

He was also walking home when he was punched to the floor. He managed to raise the alarm at a nearby house and was treated in hospital for a fractured jaw.

DC Sol Koranteng, who is investigating, said: “We’d like to hear from you if you saw a group of possibly three men acting suspiciously in this area in the early hours of May 31.

“Both attacks were unprovoked and serious, leaving two young men with facial injuries.

“If you have any information please contact police. “

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Koranteng at Basingstoke CID by calling 101 to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.