Officers punched during Cairns arrest

A police officer has been punched in the head while arresting a man in Cairns.

Police say the assault happened after a 27-year-old man ran from two officers after giving a false name over a traffic matter around 2am on Tuesday.

It's alleged the man hit one officer in the head and continued to punch both of them as they tried to restrain him.

He's is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday on one count each of contravening a requirement, seriously assaulting police and seriously obstructing police.