Police are urgently tracing a man they wish to speak to after a woman was assaulted and left with a broken jaw.

The incident left the woman needing surgery and also saw two other men get punched in the face.

The attack happened outside the Seven Hotel, in Clifton Terrace, Southend, in the early hours of Saturday, November 10, last year.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We have been progressing our enquiries and are now in a position to release CCTV images of a man we want to speak to in connection with the assaults.

"We appreciate they are not the clearest images but hope someone will recognise him."

Speaking to the Echo at the time, the victim, a 20-year-old woman said: "I was in Talk nightclub last Friday night with three other friends when I’ve been told a group of boys started throwing chips at us and picking on us in general.

“I remember someone spat in my face while we were in the club too.”

After the incident, the group left the nightclub and were walking home when the same man targeted them again.

The woman added: “We had left Talk and it was the early hours of the morning by now.

“We were all drunk and just wanted to go to bed at this point.

“I saw him again and that is when he attacked me. I was knocked out and broke my jaw.

“I also cracked my head open and injured my back quite badly too.

“All I can remember is him being really aggressive towards me and I remember one punch, but he must have hit me again.

“I don’t remember anything else.”

The woman was taken to Southend Hospital before being transferred to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, where she had an operation to correct her jaw.

Contact DC Iain White at Southend CID on 101 quoting reference 42/164051/18.

You can also report online at www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online

Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org