A man was taken to hospital after he was assaulted outside a pub in a "targeted attack".

The 33-year-old victim was left seriously injured after being attacked and struck in the face in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, on Saturday night.

The incident happened at around 9.30pm outside the Chase Inn on Merkland Drive.

He was taken to Monklands District General Hospital in Airdrie, where he was treated for a serious facial injury.

The incident happened on the night of the Old Firm match but police do not believe it to be football-related.

Detective constable Stevie Cooke, Kirkintilloch CID, said: "From our enquiries so far, we believe that this was a targeted attack.

"The injured man had been in the pub and at some point was seen in the company of at least five or six other men.

"About 9.30pm, he went outside the pub near to the smoking area, where he was assaulted by at least one man."

He added: "The pub was very busy that night - it was the night of Celtic v Rangers game - so I have no doubt that people would have seen or heard the incident take place.

"Indeed, after viewing CCTV we are keen to speak to two people in particular, a man and a woman, who were outside the pub at the time and who we think saw the attack happen.

The man is described as white, 20 to 24, about 6ft tall and wearing shorts and a grey hoodie. He was on his mobile at the front of the pub at the time.

The woman is described as white, between 20 and 30 and was wearing patterned trousers and carrying a camera. She had just come out of the smoking area outside at the time.

Any information can be passed to Kirkintilloch CID via 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.