A YOUNG woman was knocked unconscious by a man in Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The 19-year-old was viciously attacked outside McDonald’s on Linthorpe Road after a verbal argument with a man escalated.

She was slapped before being punched to the floor and knocked unconscious.

The suspect, who was with a group of five other men, fled from the scene while the victim was taken to hospital.

At Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, she was treated for a cracked cheekbone, cuts to the inside of her cheek, broken teeth and cuts and bruising to the face.

The man is described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, around 20 to 30 years old and of a stocky build.

He is about 5ft 8ins to 5ft 11ins with short, black afro-style hair and was wearing a black North Face jacket and baggy black trousers at the time of the attack.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, which happened at 11.05pm, or who has information about the man responsible should call PC Tom Lambert on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.