YORK detectives today continued to appeal for witnesses to an incident that left a man fighting for his life.

Andrew Hickox, 42, from Elland, near Halifax, remains in a critical condition at York Hospital three days after suffering serious head injuries in an apparent city centre assault.

Mr Hickox, who was visiting York with three friends, was discovered lying in Lower Friargate at 1.15am on Sunday. He was bleeding heavily from his injuries. Detectives are treating the incident as a serious assault, but have not ruled out a fall or accident. The group visited a number of city pubs, including Yates's Wine Lodge, Church Lane, where Mr Hickox became separated from his friends.

Anyone who saw Mr Hickox leave Yates's after 10.30pm on Saturday, or saw him in the Lower Friargate area of the city, is asked to phone York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 10:29 Wednesday, July 23, 2003