A 46-year-old man was hit on the head and back with sticks and other pieces of wood as he walked through a wood.

Stephen Miller was walking his dog in Taddington Wood Valley at Chatham when he noticed two motorcycles coming towards him and he gestured to the riders to stop. The two riders got off their bikes and threatened him.

As this was happening, another four people on bikes arrived as well as another two on foot. They were all aged between 15 and 20.

Mr Miller said: "I was quite surprised at first. The bikes came out of no where. I told them they shouldn't be riding their bikes through the woods and that was when they started their attack."

Mr Miller called for the police and tried to leave. It was then that the youths became vicious, arming themselves with sticks and pieces of wood and hitting on his back and the top of his head.

Mr Miller managed to get away and after following him into an alleyway, the thugs returned to their bikes and rode off in the direction of King George Road.

Mr Miller added: "I have severe bruising to by upper body and I have had to have a cut in my head glued back together. I would appeal to anyone who these youths to contact the police."

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "One of the offenders is about 19 or 20 5ft 8in tall with short cropped dark brown hair. He was wearing multi coloured leathers, predominantly blue and red and was riding an off-road bike.

"The second offender is approximately 5ft 5in tall and was wearing a full face multi coloured helmet, with similar leathers to the first offender. Both men spoke with southern accents."

The incident happened at the back of the Asda store between 3pm and 3.20pm on Wednesday, February 16.

Anyone who may have seen something or who may have information in connection with this incident is asked to contact Medway Police on 01634 884252 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

All calls to Crimestoppers are free and are treated in the strictest of confidence.