Police have released CCTV footage showing a “barbaric” unprovoked pepper spray attack on a man riding a bus in Birmingham.

In the video a man and woman can be seen setting upon their 21-year-old male victim over a period of seven minutes, leaving him temporarily blinded and with a badly broken nose.

Officers said they believe the attack began after the victim politely asked the couple to intervene when two children, with whom they were travelling, started throwing sweets at him.

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The incident took place on the top deck of the No 24 bus along Birmingham’s Broad Street before 6pm on 11 January. Police have released the CCTV images now in the hope that anyone who might recognise the man and woman involved will come forward.

West Midlands Police’s investigating officer PC Rob Harper said: “The man was minding his own business when he politely asked the group to stop throwing sweets at him – but that request prompted a barbaric, prolonged attack.

“The victim had something like pepper spray squirted in his face which rendered him defenceless as the blows rained down on him.

“At one stage the attacker stands on a seat to get a better kicking angle, whilst the woman he was with also occasionally joined in the assault. The victim was lucky to escape with only a broken nose as it could have been much worse.

“What makes this even more shocking is that they unleashed this attack in front of the two children they were travelling with. These are clear CCTV images of both the main offender and the woman with him - if you recognise them or think you've seen them please call us on 101.”

The man, woman and children all left the bus at the Green Man in Harborne at around 6pm.

Anyone with information about the attack was urged to call PC Rob Harper on 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.