Police are hunting a man who told a commuter he had a knife before headbutting him at Ilford railway station.

The unprovoked attack put the 46-year-old victim in hospital with injuries to his face.

British Transport Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to about the assault which happened at 6.45pm on March 16.

Detective Constable Michael Hatcher, who is leading the investigation, said: “The victim was standing on his own waiting for a train on platform three when a man approached him and began shouting at him.

“He claimed to have a knife and then grabbed the victim and headbutted him in the face.”

Detectives have been interviewing witnesses and analysing hours of CCTV footage from railway and council cameras since the attack.

Det Con Hatcher said: “We urgently want to speak to the man pictured as we believe he has key information about what took place.”

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting background B8 of 11/04/201414.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.