CCTV over Southampton funeral firemen attack

A CCTV image has been released of a man wanted over an attack in Southampton on two off-duty firemen who had just been to the funeral of a colleague.

The assault happened when the pair tried to stop a row outside a pub in Shirley on 30 April.

The men had earlier been to the funeral of James Shears who died in a fire at Shirley Towers, Southampton, in April.

One was left unconscious with a fractured eye socket. Both suffered facial cuts and bruises.

Mr Shears, 35, died alongside colleague Alan Bannon, 38, as they tackled the fire on the ninth floor of the tower block on 6 April.

Police said the attacked crew members, aged aged 28 and 36, had been in the Shirley Hotel pub in Shirley High Street at about 2130 BST on Friday 30 April when they became aware of the argument outside.

As they tried to defuse the row, one was hit in the face by a man who ran across the road to another pub.

The two firefighters followed and were attacked again by at least two men, officers said.

Both men were treated at Southampton General Hospital.

One of the attackers is described as about 5ft 10in, aged in his 20s, and the other is thought to be in his 30s.