TWO 18-year-olds were attacked and injured in separate night-time acts of group thug violence in the same area of Newton Abbot over the weekend.

At 3am on Saturday a gang of young men were involved in a scrap in The Avenue where the casualty was punched in the face, suffering a cut lip.

And just an hour later in nearby Station Road another victim of the same age was punched several times in the face.

He also suffered a cut lip and a black eye in the bust-up as he was set upon at a bus stop outside the railway station.

His friends, who tried to intervene, were also assaulted.

An ambulance spokesman confirmed that the punched victim was taken to Torbay Hospital for treatment.

Police say the attack was unprovoked.

Anyone with information about the offenders from either incident should contact police on 101 or confidential Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.