A father has appealed for help after his son was assaulted by men dressed in pink fairy costumes in Surbiton on Halloween.

Brian Kingsford said his son Robbie was one of two victims of the attack, when two men assaulted him near KFC in Brighton Road.

He had been subjected to homophobic abuse by one of the men outside the YMCA moments earlier, police believe.

In the wake of the attack, Mr Kingsford has set up a Facebook group called Red Alert designed to help share information about similar incidents.

He posted a picture of his son’s face after the attack, showing the extent of his injuries.

Mr Kingsford wrote:  “My Son had this happen to him in Surbiton High Street [sic] last night the two people that done this were dressed as Pink fairies and the police are now looking for them.

“These thugs need to be caught if you know who these two people were and have any conscience please report them to the police.”

Police said two men, aged 21 and 18, were left with head and facial injuries after the  attack, which happened shortly after 1am on Saturday, November 1.

Trainee Detective Constable Ann-Marie Hodgkiss said: “This was a violent and unprovoked hate crime and I am appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to contact me.

“The two suspects were distinctively dressed, probably due to Halloween, and I would urge anyone who recognises their description and who may know who they are to contact me and help us trace them.”

Police believe that when the victims walked down Victoria Road and passed a group of two men and three women outside the YMCA, one of the men shouted homophobic abuse.

The pair continued towards the zebra crossing in Brighton Road but were set upon.

Passersby jumped in to stop the assault and the attackers ran away along Victoria Road.

Kingston police said enquiries into the attack were ongoing and no arrests had been made.

Police are looking for two white men in their late 20s who were seen wearing pink tutus.

The first had fair, shaven hair and a short, muscular build. The second had short brown hair.

Anyone with information should call the community safety unit at Kingston police station on 020 8721 5858, call 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.