Police are calling for eyewitnesses after an elderly man was attacked when he hurled racial abuse on a bus.

Footage circling online shows two black passengers beating up a white man racially aggravating the two after he was seen saying “yes, you’re a monkey”.

The incident took place just before 6.40pm on Tuesday (September 8) on the 251 bus by Lawrence Street, Mill Hill.

Other passengers were seen trying to defuse the situation as the two parties argued.

One of the two males asked the elderly man: “So we’re all monkeys? I’m a monkey yeah?”

The pensioner replied: “F*** off! Yes, you’re a monkey!”

The Instagram user who posted the video, @jayjaydax, claims that the man also used words such as ‘n*****’ before the fight.

Police say that following the racial abuse captured on video, the man, 70, was assaulted.

The footage showed the two punching the man and he was captured with a bruised face.

As other passengers tried to diffuse the situation, they were seen telling the offended passengers to get off the bus.

When they left the bus, one of the males demanded thea elderly man leaves the bus too.

The elderly man replied: “I’m not getting off the f***ing bus.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Officers attended and found a 70-year-old man with head injuries. London Ambulance Service also attended, and the man was taken to hospital. His injuries are not life-changing or life-threatening.

“There were no arrests, an investigation ongoing.”

The force added they were aware of a video circulating social media “alleged” to be of this incident.

Acting Inspector Daniel Mount, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “We take all allegations of racism and assault very seriously and my team are keen to speak to anyone who was involved or who witnessed this incident.

“There were a number of people on the bus at the time this incident is said to have taken place and we are very keen to hear from them. If this is you, please call 101 quoting reference CAD 6368/08SEP20.”