POLICE are on the hunt for a balaclava-clad suspect that attacked his victim with a baseball bat.

At around 11.25am on Monday, police were called to Queen's Drive, near Kilmarnock Rugby Club, after a 28-year-old man was seriously assaulted.

The suspect, who is described as 6ft tall and of slim build, was dressed all in black and was wearing a black balaclava.

The victim was taken to Crosshouse Hospital where he was treated for his injuries, but has since been released.

Officers have been gathering CCTV footage and are appealing for witnesses to help with enquiries.

A white saloon car was seen leaving the area of Kilmarnock Rugby Club around the time of the incident and police are keen to trace the driver of the vehicle.

Detective Constable Martin Fraser, Kilmarnock CID said: “We don’t know what the motive for this attack is, which took place on a busy street in the middle of the day. There is a rugby club and an Asda superstore nearby so there may well have been people in the area who were going shopping.

“We would ask members of the public who were in the area at around the time of the incident to think back, did you see a white saloon car leaving the area, or a man matching the description prior to the incident? If you have any information please do contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call officers at Kilmarnock Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 1165 of October 30, 2017. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.