THIS is the man fighting for his life after being seriously injured in an apparent assault in York city centre.

Andrew Hickox, 42, from Elland, near Halifax, remains in a critical condition today, two days after being discovered bleeding heavily from serious head injuries in Lower Friargate.

Today detectives were continuing to investigate the circumstances that left Mr Hickox lying in a street at 1.15am on Sunday.

Officers are treating the incident as a serious assault, but have not ruled out a fall or accident as the cause.

Mr Hickox had travelled to York and met up with three friends before visiting a number of city pubs, including Yates's Wine Lodge, in Church Lane.

Detective Superintendent Javed Ali, of York Police, appealed to anyone who saw Mr Hickox in Yates's - or saw him leave - to contact them.

He confirmed that Mr Hickox was in Yates's at about 10.30pm on Sunday.

Updated: 10:58 Tuesday, July 22, 2003