A 70-year-old Asian man was dragged into an alleyway and beaten in Heston during his morning walk yesterday.

Ram Kailash Shahi, a widower, received head injures in the attack and is in a critical condition in hospital.

The assault took place at 9.10pm in Vicarage Farm Road, Heston, about 30 yards north of the Great West Road near a H32 bus stop.

Scotland Yard said in a statement the suspects were four Asian males aged in their late teens or early twenties. They left the scene in a dark car but no further details were available at this stage.

The elderly man lives in Heston and is a retired courier manager. Police are keeping an open mind regarding a motive.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, possibly including users of the H32 (Hounslow-Heston-Southall) bus route. Anyone with information is asked to call Hounslow CID on 020 8247 6138 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.