POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault that took place on a bus to come forward.

A man was punched in the head during a disturbance on the 43 Arriva service from Durham to Esh Winning on Wednesday, January 16, at 9pm.

A Durham police spokes-man said: "Shortly after the bus moved away from a stop in Ushaw Moor there was an altercation in which fast food was thrown about the bus and which ultimately resulted in a 39-year-old passenger being punched in the head.

"The passenger over-powered his assailant and held him down while the bus driver called the police.

"A 22-year-old man was subsequently arrested and is on police bail pending further enquiries.''

Police want to speak to four passengers on the bus who got off after the incident and are believed to have been offered a lift by a passer-by.

They are a woman, in her late thirties or early forties, and a girl aged between 12 and 14, who may have been travelling together, and two teenage boys who were sitting at the back of the bus.

They are asked to ring PC Paul Jackson, on 0191-378 0322.