This is the shocking moment a violent attacker lunges feet first at a woman and her friend to kick the pair painfully to the ground.

Footage released today by the Metropolitan Police shows the man darting across a road in Barnet before throwing himself at a group of friends.

His right foot high in the air, he sends two of them flying backwards on to the pavement outside McDonald's on High Road, Barnet.

The bald attacker, wearing shorts and a grey jumper, then gets to his feet and appears to try to stamp on the fallen man. The victim gets up and the pair throw punches that miss their intended targets.

Other women in the group attempt to intervene as the man flees, appearing to make obscene gestures as he goes.

Police said the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. The man, said to be in his 30s, apparently shouted across the street before rushing across it to mount his vicious assault.

Both victims were taken to hospital. The woman needed six stitches for a split lip and suffered bruising to her head and elbow, police said. The man sustained cuts to his face.

Contact police on 101 with any information.