A 51-year-old man has been left with paralysis to one side of his face after he was hit on the head with a brick while trying to remove gatecrashers from a party.

Police were called to a house in Burleigh Avenue, Wallington, at 10pm on Saturday, September 16, after a party being held by a teenage girl at her home got out of hand.

About 20 youths had turned up at the house uninvited and the victim, who is a neighbour of the girl, went round to help her get them out.

One of the youths then hit him on the back of the head with a brick, fracturing his skull, perforating his eardrum and giving him facial paralysis - a condition which may be permanent.

Detective Sergeant Nick Burrows told the Sutton Guardian: "This was a cowardly mindless attack carried out on a perfectly innocent member of the public who was not party to any dispute.

"He had only gone there to be moral support for his friend. He is a self-employed man who is now off work and he is shocked by what happened.

"The people I really want to speak to are any persons at the party who may have seen any altercations. I would also like to contact any persons who did gatecrash the party. If they speak to me they will be treated in the strictest confidence."

The suspect is described as white, aged 16 to 18 and about 5ft 8in. He had very short hair and was wearing only dark jeans and no top.

Anyone with information is asked to call D Sgt Burrows on 020 8649 0739. Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.