A man arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after two women suffered serious injuries during an attack in Southend has been released on police bail.

Louise Davies, 23, was pushing her friend Rachel Carr, 22, who was in a wheelchair after an operation on her feet.

They were in Chichester Road when a thug approached from behind.

As they neared the entrance to the Travelodge hotel, the tattooed man began to speak to them aggressively.

The next thing the pair remember is their heads smacking against the pavement as the man stamped on their faces at about 11.30pm on Saturday, January 23.

The wheelchair was then pushed into the middle of the road.

Both women were left with black eyes, bruising and swelling.

Miss Davies, from Rochford, also suffered a suspected fractured eye socket.

The pair had been to East Coast Social, in London Road, on a date with two men and were on their way to get something to eat when the attack happened. Their dates had gone off for a few minutes to make a phone call.

A 28-year-old man from Westcliff was arrested on Monday evening **1**.

He has been released on bail pending further inquiries to report back to police on Monday, April 18.