POLICE are hunting an attacker who smacked a nightclub reveller - while disguised as a SMURF.

The 21-year-old victim was taken to hospital following the serious assault at a fancy-dress party.

Officers were called to the scene, at a nightspot in Greenock’s Dalrymple Street, after receiving reports of the bizarre bust-up.

And they have appealed for help tracking down the culprit, who was wearing the blue-and-white costume made famous by the popular children’s cartoon characters, The victim, who was dressed as a Rastafarian at the time of the attack, needed four stitches to his face.

Detective Inspector John Dearie, of Greenock police, described the case as ‘unusual’.

He said: “I can honestly say it is the first time in nearly 30 years in the police force I have been looking for a suspect who was a Smurf. It’s quite unusual to say the least.” The attack happened at about 2.40am on Monday.

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the party at the town-centre nightspot to come forward.

DI Dearie said: “We are treating this incident very seriously. Whether people are dressed up as fantasy characters is neither here nor there.

“We want to stamp out violence in Inverclyde. People should be able to go out to these parties and enjoy themselves without being the victim of an assault.

“People can resolve this quite quickly if they can identify this person and can do so anonymously.

“We will also be making inquiries at fancy-dress shops. But it would be better for the person responsible to hand themselves in.” Anyone with information should call police on 492500, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.