Part of Walsall sealed off after early morning violence
[gallery] Two men were attacked as violence erupted in Walsall town centre early today, leaving one of the victims with serious head injuries.
Police were called at around 3.30am and are today hunting four men and a woman believed to have been involved. Paramedics sent to the scene arrived to find passers-by caring for the injured pair, one of whom was unconscious.
Shocked residents today told of hearing one of the men was found lying in a pool of blood.
Officers closed off part of Bradford Street as investigations got under way. Shops and market traders within the cordon were told not to open before midday.
The victim with head injuries, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital and was today said to be in a stable condition.
The other man, whose age is not yet known, suffered minor injuries in the assault. He did not need hospital treatment.
Traders spoke of their shock today. Tony Rogers, aged 48, has run his flower and plant stall in the town for more than 20 years.
He arrived at the pitch early at 5.45am to discover uniformed officers at the scene.
"It was a shock to see the cordon this morning. We heard they found someone in a pool of blood," he said.
"Luckily for us, we could get on our stall. It has been cordoned off before a few times but not this large an area."
Market trader Gurjeet Singh, aged 33, arrived to find part of the street sealed off and police officers on patrol.
Mr Singh, who has run a shoe stall at Walsall market for two years, said: "Part of the road was closed. Other market traders have turned back because they can't work.
"There are a lot of shops closed, too. It is going to affect a lot of people.
"We were fortunate we were far enough from the cordon to trade today."
Steve Morgan, aged 44, part of the senior management team at Eye Openers in Bradford Street, said: "We have had people fighting right outside our door before.
"It was something waiting to happen. We get a lot of trouble round here. The police have got to do their job but it is going to affect shops." He added shopkeepers had been told they could not trade until noon.
Police have urged witnesses to call them on 101.
