A man had to be taken to hospital after an attacker hit him on the head with a bat in North Ayrshire.

The 51-year-old victim was within a garden in Mayville Street, Stevenston, when he was approached by a man and woman.

The male suspect then struck the man repeatedly with a bat before running off with the woman in an unknown direction.

The victim was taken to University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock, where he was treated for his injuries and then released.

Police are now investigating the motive behind the attack, which happened at around 8.40pm on Thursday.

Detective Bryn Meehan said: "We are trying to establish a motive for this violent assault which left the victim with several injuries to his head and body.

"At this time we have no description of the man and woman involved and I'd appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Mayville Street, Stevenston, around 8.40pm on Thursday and who can recall seeing a man and woman either hanging around suspiciously prior to the assault or running off afterwards to contact police immediately."

If you have any information, call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.