A man knocked a woman unconscious outside a bar before speeding off in a car.

The attack happened at 1am on Saturday outside Miss D's on South Vennel, Lanark.

A 32-year-old woman was waiting for a taxi when a passenger got out of a silver car and pushed her to the ground, knocking her out.

The attacker then got back into the car which then sped off.

The woman was taken to Wishaw General Hospital where she is in a stable condition after treatment for a serious head injury.

Detective constable Vicky Ross, of Lanark CID, said: "The woman, along with friends, had been in the pub and had come out to wait for a taxi that she and her friends had ordered.

"At the same time, a silver car, possibly a Vauxhall Astra, with two men on board, pulled up outside the pub and the passenger got out.

"He pushed several women including the injured woman, who due to the force of his push, fell back and struck her head on the ground, knocking her out."

She added: "As far as we are aware, there was absolutely no reason for this attack."

Police said there were many people outside the pub at the time of the attack and they urged anyone with information to come forward.

The attacker, who was wearing a black Celtic tracksuit top and tracksuit bottoms, was white, about 5ft 5in tall and had short, dark hair.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.