A RAIL worker was assaulted as he travelled home from work on the train.

The c2c employee from Leigh was punched in the face and verbally abused as he sat on the train in his uniform.

The victim, aged 57, boarded the London-bound train at Chalkwell and at with a colleague in the last carriage.

At Westcliff station a man boarded the train and began insulting the pair. As the train arrived in Leigh the victim stood up to leave and make his way home but was attacked by the man.

He suspect fled the train at Leigh and was last seen running from the station. The victim suffered a cut to his lip.

Julian Drury, c2c managing director, said: "Like everyone else, our employees should be able to work and travel without fear of assault or abuse from strangers.

“We urge anyone who has any useful information about this crime to contact the police."

British Transport Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in relation to the attack.

PC Melvyn Owen, investigating for BTP, said: “We will not tolerate violence of any kind on the rail network. We take all reports of assaults very serious and are doing all we can to catch the individual responsible.

“I am keen to hear from anyone who recognises the man pictured. We urgently need to speak to him as we believe he might have important information about what happened.”

The incident happened on the train which left Chalkwell at about 1.45pm on Wednesday, January 14.

Anyone with information can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference E/B8 of 11/03/2015, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.