A witness who saw a British couple and their son beaten unconscious has described how he tried to help them but was attacked so violently he now needs surgery.

CCTV footage captured the attack at around 2am in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, where the elderly couple and their middle-aged son were celebrating Thai New Year.

The row appears to escalate from nowhere as the woman is punched to the ground while the men are being overwhelmed by punches and kicks in the background.

A witness, calling himself 'Usual Suspect' on the Hua Hin internet forum, said a group of Thai youths had been looking for trouble in the area during the Songkran New Year water splashing holiday.

Beaten: Three British holidaymakers were left knocked out cold and lying in the street during Thai New Year festivities in the popular resort of Hua Hin, after being attacked by a gang of local youths

Shocking CCTV footage shows the fight escalate, as the elderly couple and their grown up son were assaulted. The couple's grown up son can be seen clutching his head in agony in the left of this image, after he was pushed to the ground at the beginning of the assault

He claims he was walking with his wife and tried to intervene, pushing a youth away who was beating the woman, but was himself attacked and he now needs dental surgery due to his injuries.

'The girls in the bar I was in all night waved goodbye to two elderly customers and their son and my wife and I followed only seconds after them.

'Within 20-30 metres of leaving the bar the Thais were punching the 65-year-old lady in the face!!

'The elderly gentleman was down on the floor and their son was beaten very badly!

'At this point I caught up to the scene and pushed one of the youths away from the woman. I got severely punched and kicked for my troubles, but felt the need to protect this frail lady.'

He continued: 'Not one person (other than myself) came to aid these old folk and they ended up laid in the road bleeding..so if you're still out in the wee hours tonight please be alert.

'These pockets of youths were intent on causing harm, and did blend in with all others beforehand.

'The three of them are still hospitalised, and I will need cosmetic dental work done.'

The small street lined with cafes and shops was full of people, out to celebrate the New Year Songkran festivities. In the left of this image, the father is seen helping son back to his feet

All three victims had to be taken to hospital for treatment after the violent attack. Police are using the horrific footage to trace the gang members. In this image, the British woman can be seen standing in a dark shirt in the left of the image, as the fight grows in violence around her

The attack is believed to have happened outside Tina Bar and Mama Mia Bar along a bustling street called Soi Bintabaht, close to the Tourist Police Station.

It is not clear in the clip what is being said to provoke the outbreak of violence.

But a melee ensues between the tourists and the gang members, with the British woman, who is believed to be in her 60s, approaching one of the gang and speaking to him.

The man then punches her in the face and knocks her to the ground, while both men are being kicked and punched in the uproar.

As she tries to sit back up, one of the gang kicks her violently in the jaw and knocks her out.

The three holidaymakers were left knocked out cold and lying in the street as their attackers disappear into the crowds of passersby during the Songkran festivities.

Police are using the CCTV footage from a camera at the entrance to a small street of bars called Soi Bintabaht in front of Wat Hua Hin to trace the attackers.

They say they have arrested four suspects and are confident of arresting others.

This horrific image shows the moment the elderly woman was punched in the face (circled) during the fight, after she approached one of the gang members and appeared to try to reason with him

As the stunned woman tried to sit back up after being punched in the face, one of the attackers kicks her hard on the jaw knocking her unconscious (circled)

Anyone who has information about the attackers or who witnessed the incident, which took place in the early hours of April 13, is urged to contact officers at Hua Hin police station.

It is not known who provoked the attack, but there were suggestions the fight was started by the Britons.

According to British people living abroad, the CCTV footage of events leading up to the incident shows the English woman striking a Thai man in the face.

The footage is said to show the woman engaged in a discussion with a Thai man who was passing her by.

Then, after 57 seconds, the 'English lady hits the Thai man in the face', one ex-patriate said on a forum's discussion page.

But the writer adds that even if the woman had hit the man 'it is not an excuse for a mob to kick the daylight out of others'.

But he added: 'After looking several times, I cannot agree that the tourists were passive and just passing.'

A witness reported seeing a gang of local youths who had been looking for trouble in the area during the Songkran New Year holiday, before they attacked the British family

Police reportedly have two suspects in custody, according to Thai news sites, but are asking for information to trace the remaining attackers. In this image, the father (in a purple shirt) can be seen trying to stand back up, while both his wife and son are laid out on the floor around him

After the outbreak of violence, passersby help the victims as they lay unconscious in the middle of the street. All three had to be taken to hospital following the assault, after the attackers disappeared into the crowd

Another writer, a Thai, took the same view that the Britons has sparked the incident, commenting: 'Yep – they are lucky they didn't get stabbed or shot. Will probably teach them a lesson.'

Another writer said: 'Maybe they should have stayed in England? Maybe they deserved what they got?'

But the general opinion expressed on Thai ex-patriate forums was that incidents such as this will shame Thailand, with one commenting: 'Another day in paradise. Welcome to Thailand, the land of smiles.

'A Buddhist country full of peaceful people who welcome tourists.

'People might be naive when they come here, but they often go home with a more realistic viewpoint.