Caught on camera: Horrific pepper spray attack on West Midlands bus passenger

The victim, 21, was set upon by a man who is believed to be the children's father. He launched a series of punches, and was kneed and kicked in a seven-minute ordeal.

He was targeted with pepper spray before the thug and a woman he appears to be with launched a tirade of physical and verbal abuse.

It happened on the top deck of the 24 bus travelling on Birmingham's busy Broad Street on the evening of January 11. The attacker, the woman and children left the bus at a stop near the Green Man pub in Harborne at around 6pm.

The victim, from Birmingham's Woodgate area, was left with a badly broken nose and other facial injurie.

Pc Rob Harper described the attack as "barbaric" and urged anyone who recognised the attackers to come forward.

He 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."

Anyone with information about the attack, or believes they recognise the attackers, is urged to call Pc Harper at Birmingham Central Police on 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.