A PENSIONER was punched in the face after taking off his mask to speak to his elderly mother.

The victim, in his late 60s, removed his face covering to talk to his mother, who is in her 90s and hard of hearing, when the suspect came up behind him, demanded that he put his mask back on, then punched the victim in the face.

The incident happened on a Blackpool tram at about 8.30pm on September 4 and the man was left with bruising around the eye.

Pc Laura Alves, of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a shocking attack on a man who was simply trying to speak to his mother, who is hard of hearing.

“We urgently need to speak to the man in the CCTV still and I would ask that anyone who recognises him to contact police.

“Similarly, I would appeal to the man directly to contact us if you see this appeal.”

Police are looking for the attacker who is described as being in his 30s, about 5ft 6in tall, of large build, wearing all black with a grey face mask.

He had a shaved head with dark hair and was wearing glasses.

No arrest has been made and inquiries are continuing.

Police are asking that anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 0428 of September 5, 2020.