Attack man in critical condition

A man was today in a critical condition in hospital following a brutal attack in a busy Kingswinford street.

Police believe up to 10 people may have witnessed the 38-year-old Kingswinford man being kicked and punched to the ground during the attack.

The incident happened in Kingswinford High Street between Bar South and The Arizona Crossing pub some time between 2.15am and 2.30am on Saturday, police

said.

The victim, who suffered internal injuries during the assault, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition, West Midlands police said today.

Officers believe that up to 10 people may have witnessed the attack and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

They are particularly keen to trace a man and woman who tried to stop the attack.

DC Ian Moore from Halesowen CID said: "We particularly need to trace a woman with braided hair and a man with receding hair who tried to intervene and stop the attack.

"Anyone with information should contact the CID at Halesowen on 0845 113 5000."

Kingswinford South councillor Peter Miller said: "I was shocked to hear about this happening in Kingswinford again because violence is not something I would associate with Kingswinford.

"There were police around on Saturday morning asking the pubs for CCTV so they could piece together what had happened.

"It is a bit of a worrying trend that seems to be developing."

Bar South manager Mike Southall, who has run his business for the past three-and-a-half years, said he spent £18,000 a year employing door staff at his bar because he did not believe there were enough police on the beat in Kingswinford.

Mr Southall added that he did not know if anyone involved in the incident had been drinking at his bar earlier in the evening but said the attack happened some distance from either pub, at the other end of the High Street close to the junction with Oak Street.