A 40-YEAR-OLD man is in a critical condition in hospital after he was allegedly attacked near a takeaway restaurant on New Year's Eve.

He was found unconscious shortly before midnight at Church Road, Haydock near to the junction with Arrowsmith Road, opposite The Jade Garden chinese takeaway.

An ambulance was called and paramedics took the local man to Walton Neurological Hospital in Liverpool with a serious head injury.

His condition is described as critical and his next of kin have been informed.

A police investigation into the assault is underway and detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

They believe the incident was witnessed by a number of men and women.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Turner said: "A man is in a very poorly condition in hospital so I am calling on the people who were there to do the right thing and come forward and tell us what happened.

"We believe this man was assaulted and that there were a number of people in Church Road and Arrowsmith Road who must have seen what happened. In particular I need to speak to a group of men and women who were stood next to the victim while he lay on the ground.

"My officers are carrying out extensive enquiries in Haydock today and we are doing everything we can to trace the person or people responsible for assaulting this man so that they can be brought to justice. "

Anyone with information is asked to call St Helens CID on 0151 777 6812 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.