The life of a 22-year-old Brentwood man hung in the balance for several hours after he was punched and kicked to the ground in a savage assault.

The victim is recovering from emergency surgery on a blood clot and broken jaw after being rushed to Oldchurch Hospital in Romford. Police have now issued a massive appeal for witnesses.

The alarm was raised at 11.30pm on Saturday night by a group of people who saw him slumped near the back of the Powerhouse store at North Service Road.

They called an ambulance and stayed with the injured man until help arrived.

However police say other revellers who were spilling out of nearby pubs, bars and restaurants first stopped to watch the melee and then moved on.

They are particularly anxious to trace a group of girls and the driver and passengers of a Ford car picked up on CCTV cameras near the scene.

Dc Paul McFadyan of Brentwood Police said: "The victim was with a member of his family having an enjoyable evening out only for this to this happen.

"He suffered severe injuries to his head and the type of surgery he underwent sometimes means a low percentage of recovery. I don't think he's yet realised how lucky he was.

"At one point in the early hours of Sunday morning things were touch and go and could have gone either way but now he's been moved to a general ward and in the fullness of time it looks as if he will recover.

''His family have been extremely concerned and very supportive.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw anything. There are a lot of pieces still to be added to the jigsaw.

''It seems some kind of disagreement broke out in the nearby White Hart pub near closing time and a group wasushered out after which a fight began on the pavement spilling onto the service road.

"We have been looking at the CCTV cameras and there were a lot of people about.

''A group of females were in the area and cars were driving past which were seen to stop, possibly considering whether to intervene, but then move on.

"A Ford car can also definitely be seen driving along as the fight was taking place.

Anyone who can help should contact me at Brentwood Police on 01277 262212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Street of shame: The site of the attack in North Service Road.

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