A gang of up to a dozen youths left a man badly injured after attacking him with a metal pole.

The 38-year-old was assaulted as he met his partner outside a shop in Rutherglen.

He was waiting inside a phone box at local shops in Fernhill when the gang began shouting and gesturing at him. When he came out of the phone box, one of the gang hit him over the head with the pole before they ran off behind the shops.

The victim, from Castlemilk in Glasgow, was taken to the city's Victoria Infirmary and kept in overnight. The attack happened at about 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Police described the attack as "completely unprovoked", saying that the man was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Detective Sergeant Margaret-Ann May, who is leading the investigation, said: "It is appalling that someone would be victimised in this way just because of where he does, or in this case doesn't, live.

"This was a completely unprovoked attack on the victim, and at this time we believe this to be a case of territorialism and that the man was assaulted for simply being in the wrong area.

"The shops in Fernhill Road were fairly busy at this time last night, and we are confident people may have witnessed the assault and quite understandably, not got involved. We are hopeful that members of the public will now be willing to come forward when they realise how badly injured the victim is.

The main suspect was a white male, aged between 15 and 17 and of heavy build. He was wearing a dark jacket.

DS May added: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Fernhill shops last night around 7.45pm and witnessed this assault to contact us. Likewise, if anyone knows the person responsible, please come forward."