A New Zealand tourist is fighting for his life in a London hospital after being viciously beaten in an unprovoked attack in Acton.

The 26-year-old was walking home past the Total Service Station in Gunnersbury Lane with his girlfriend and two others at 10.30pm on Sunday when assaulted.

A man accompanied by three girls drove his white car out of the station and directly into the group's path.

As the girls shouted abuse from the car, the suspect got out of the vehicle carrying a piece of wood, possibly a baseball bat, and beat the victim around the head before jumping back in his car and driving away.

The victim was immediately taken to Ealing Hospital, where his injuries were judged to be potentially life threatening, before he was transferred to Charing Cross Hospital to receive more specialist treatment.

He has a depressed fracture of the skull and is in a critical condition.

Police are appealing for information to help them trace the suspect, described as white, about 5ft 8in, with short hair. On the night of the attack he was wearing a white t-shirt.

The car the man drove was a white, four-door hatchback. Its registration plate contained the number three and is also thought to contain the letters S and H.

'This was a particularly vicious and unprovoked attack on a man walking home and anyone who may have seen a man covered in blood and driving a white car is urged to come forward,' said Sergeant Ben Chandler of Ealing police.

Anyone with any information should contact DC Andy Miles at Ealing CID on 020 8246 9422.