TWO passengers were seriously assaulted on a train.

A group of two men and a woman boarded a train bound for Southend Central at Fenchurch Street, London.

A man in his 40s got sprayed with beer by the group and asked them to calm down, then was punched in the face by one of them.

His friend tried to intervene and was set upon by the other two group members, who punched him several times.

The train left London at 9.50pm on July 1 and British Transport Police want to speak to any witnesses.

Detective Constable Paul Cudby added: “This was a vicious and unprovoked assault, which left two men seriously injured as a result.

“If you were on the train at the same time, witnessed the altercation with the security guards or recognise any of the people pictured in the CCTV image, I urge you to get in contact."

The first man police want to speak to in connection with the assault is described as white, in his mid-20s, of skinny build, with short dark hair and about six feet tall. He wore a blue t-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms and sand-coloured steel toe-cap boots. The second man police want to talk to was white, in his 40s, with short grey hair, about five feet and eight inches tall and of a stocky build.

He was wearing a dark t-shirt with a large logo.

The woman police are looking for was white, about five feet and four inches tall, with bobbed red hair and wearing a plan black dress.

Anyone with information can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference B8/LNA of 5/8/2011.

Or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.