A 24-YEAR-OLD man was beaten unconscious by three offenders and left bleeding heavily on the ground in Stroud after a fight at a taxi rank.

The victim was head-butted and punched, then kicked as he lay on the floor before losing consciousness.

A couple of friends who were with him tried to stop the assault.

The brawl broke out while all four men were queuing for a cab in King Street at about 2.45am on Sunday, August 2.

After the assault the three offenders got into a black seven-seater taxi and left the scene.

The injured man was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance for treatment for various injuries, including a suspected broken nose.

Police would like to speak to any witnesses who have not already come forward and also to the taxi driver who drove the three offenders away.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting incident 71 of 2 August 2015.