A woman has been hospitalised and a man charged with assault after a violent incident in the heart of Port Douglas early Wednesday morning. 

A 27-year-old woman was taken to hospital with suspected facial fractures after being repeatedly punched and kicked by a man on Davidson Street (Port Douglas Road). 

Several witnesses saw the woman being assaulted and came to her aid as the attacker fled the scene on foot.

Police were called to the scene and quickly found the attacker before taking him into custody.

The 31-year-old Port Douglas man was charged with one count of aggravated grievous bodily harm and has been remanded to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today.