An elderly woman was spat at and her husband kicked in the face in an “utterly despicable” unprovoked attack on the Central line.

The couple were travelling between Bethnal Green and Liverpool Street shortly before 10am on Saturday when a stranger approached them.

He then spat in the 77-year-old woman’s face.

When her husband, aged 63, challenged the man, he was pushed to the floor and kicked in the face.

Other passengers rushed to the couple’s aid as the attacker left the train at Liverpool Street.

The woman was not injured but her husband sustained cuts and bruising to his face.

Investigating officer DC Alban Barnes,said: “This was an utterly despicable assault. Neither of the victims provoked this man in any way and it beggars belief why he decided to assault them.

“If you know someone who matches this description then I would urge you to get in touch. Your information could be vital in our enquiries to trace the person responsible.”

The attacker is described as a black man of slim build and approximately 6ft tall.

He had black hair tied in knots and was wearing dark grey baggy tracksuit trousers, a dirty grey jumper and dark trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to send a text to 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 231 of 06/05/2017, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.