Four youths have been sentenced to referral orders for their part in violent disorder in Hunstanton.

They were responsible for two unprovoked attacks on May 22, which left one man needing 20 stitches to his face and another unconscious.

The first victim, a 37-year-old man, was out with his girlfriend when he was confronted by a large group of youths outside The Coffee Pot in Le Strange Terrace.

He was elbowed in the head by one boy before being assaulted again, causing a split to his face requiring 20 stitches.

A local pub worker who tried to intervene was knocked unconscious with a blow to his face and left with bruising and other injuries needing hospital treatment.

One youth was arrested on the night and others arrested following an investigation by officers from King's Lynn who identified the culprits thanks to council CCTV footage.

Three of the youths, all 15 at the time of the offence, have appeared at King's Lynn youth court and admitted affray.

Each was sentenced to a four month Referral Order, requiring them to undertake a programme with the local Youth Offending Panel.

A 16-year-old arrested at the scene of the incident on May 22 pleaded guilty to the same offence at court in October and was given a nine month Referral Order. All were from the local area. None of the youths can be named for legal reasons.

Insp Dave Buckley, of Hunstanton police, said: 'The convictions are a few months down the line but I hope local residents, who were rightly outraged by this behaviour, will be reassured that we have rigorously pursued those responsible.

'Praise must go to one officer, who has since retired, who on the night had to deal with numerous violent incidents and large groups of youths in different parts of the town, as well as help the victims of assault, before other units arrived. He was extremely brave and a credit to the Constabulary.'

Investigating officer Det Con Darren Nurse said: 'It would have been a much more difficult investigating without the excellent CCTV footage which clearly showed who was involved and enabled us to quickly identify them.'

Under-age drinking has been blamed for a summer which saw a number of violent incidents in the resort.