Man beaten for telling off youths

Police have appealed for witnesses to the assault to come forward

A man who told off a group of youths who were causing a disturbance has been badly beaten with a golf club and baseball bat, police said.

The 31-year-old man was returning home from local shops when he confronted the group in an underpass in Livingston between 1900 and 1930 GMT on Wednesday.

The youths then fled the scene between Morrisons at Carmondean and Fells Rigg.

The man was left unconscious by the attack, and he was later found to have a broken arm and severe bruising.

A police spokesman said: "This was a violent and sustained attack on an innocent member of the public.

"It is clear from their actions that those responsible are callous individuals who think little of inflicting such severe injuries on an innocent member of the public.

"We are appealing for any information that can assist us in identifying those responsible."