A MAN was punched in the face and mugged at a notorious trouble spot as he walked home from work.

The 39-year-old had left Swindon railway station and got to the Cambria Bridge Road underpass when he was attacked.

The offender, a man in his 20s, walked up to his victim, punched him in the face and demanded he hand over his money.

PC Caroline Hook, of Swindon police, is hoping a distinctive tattoo on the assailant's arm will help lead police to him.

PC Hook said the tattoo ran down the inside of the suspect's right forearm.

It is eight or nine letters long and in gothic writing, which police described as similar to the font used for the Daily Telegraph.

"The injured party can't remember what the tattoo said but that's the most distinctive feature," she said.

"It's quite unusual, so hopefully someone may be able to help us identify him from it.

"We can also do our own inquiries to try and identify the offender from the tattoo."

The incident, which happened just before 7pm on Monday, is the latest in a long line of attacks in the underpass.

In April a 19-year-old man was stabbed in the legs, not far from where the man was mugged on Monday.

Police said at the time that the attack bore the markings of a drug-related punishment stabbing.

It is also the same spot where Limara Crewe, of Liden, falsely claimed she was raped in March this year.

The 20-year-old was subsequently ordered to do 150 hours of community service for making up the story which led police to warn women not to walk alone in the area.

In February 23-year-old drug addict Dean Bradbury, of Birch Street, was jailed for two years after robbing a pensioner in Cambria Bridge Lane.

His 68-year-old victim suffered a three-inch cut on her arm after he knocked her to the ground.

And in November last year a 41-year-old man was punched and kicked to the ground in what police described as an unprovoked attack.

The suspect in the latest incident is white, agedabout 25 and 5ft 10ins, of medium build.

He had short, dark brown, slightly curly hair, was clean shaven and wearing dark coloured trousers.

The dark-haired victim was smartly dressed and carrying an umbrella.

Anyone with information should call PC Hook at Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.