TWO men were beaten with bats in unprovoked attacks in a space of 25 minutes.

Police think the same thug may be responsible for both incidents.

In the first attack a 23-year-old milkman was just starting his round on Primrose Hill in Castlefields, Runcorn when a car pulled up and the driver asked him the time, at 3.10am on Monday.

The driver then got out and assaulted the milkman with a blunt instrument.

The milkman, who did not have one of the mobile phones police recently gave to milkmen in a community safety project, suffered cuts to his head and two suspected broken arms.

He described the attacker as around 6ft 1ins tall, of chubby build, with a bald-head, wearing a dark tracksuit and speaking with a local accent.

The second attack was on a 58-year-old making his way home from a friend's house 25 minutes later on Victoria Road, near the Spur Road.

The attacker's description was similar and the man suffered cuts to his head from a baseball bat. His vehicle was also attacked during the incident. Nothing was stolen in either assault.

Anyone with information should call Det Con Sven Talbot or Det Con David Hutcheon on 01244 613933.