A MAN suffered head and face injuries after being attacked in York city-centre remains in hospital, police say.

The attack happened in Nessgate between 11.30pm and midnight on Tuesday.

Police say the victim, a man in his 50s, was attacked from behind.

His injuries are not believed to be as serious as first feared, but he remains in hospital, police said on Thursday afternoon.

The investigation is continuing, and no arrests have yet been made, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said.

He was found by a Ben Ramscar, who works at the Blue Boar pub in nearby Castlegate and who lives above the pub.

He said he saw four people arguing when he walked to Tesco in Low Ousegate at around 11.30pm, and when he returned moments later he found the injured man alone.

York Press:

Mr Ramscar told The Press: "When I came back I saw one man in the street with a trail of blood coming from his head. I called the ambulance but a police car turned up first. I chatted to police, then the ambulance turned up."

He said the other three people in the group were two young men and a woman.

Officers were on the scene for more than 10 hours, initially in large numbers. One local businessman said a large stretch of Nessgate had been cordoned off in the early hours of this morning.

A small cordon remained in place outside Thomas Cook this morning, around a pool of blood on the pavement.

Can you help?

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible. Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to call 101, select option 2 and ask for York Serious Crime Team. Please quote reference number 12150135007."