Major update on police search for pair after man left needing surgery following alleged Fleetwood bus assault

Two people are set to be spoken to by police following a public appeal over a serious assault on a bus passenger in Thornton.

Lancashire Police confirmed the update after earlier asking for the public's help to identify a man and a woman as part of ongoing enquiries.

In a statement, the force said: "Earlier today we asked for your help as part of our enquiries into an assault on a bus passenger as the bus travelled from Fleetwood through Thornton Cleveleys. To update you, two people are going to be spoken to in due course. Thank you to everyone who shared the appeal."

The appeal related to an incident on the No.14 bus during the late afternoon of Monday, 11 May.

Police said a man and a woman, who were pushing a pram, boarded the bus at around 5.50pm outside the Strawberry Gardens pub on Poulton Road in Fleetwood.

As the bus travelled towards Thornton, the pair allegedly began verbally abusing a passenger, a man in his 40s. When the bus was passing Hickory's restaurant on Fleetwood Road North, they allegedly assaulted him.

The victim suffered head injuries that required surgery.

Although the assault happened in May, officers had been carrying out enquiries before issuing a public appeal to identify the pair.

Police previously said they believed there were a large number of passengers on the bus at the time and urged anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.