TWO men have been released on bail after a man was left with serious head injuries following a brawl outside The Smock public house.

Police said the 20-year-old man who was hurt during the incident in Maidenhall Approach remains in a critical condition today in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Emergency services were called to Maidenhall Approach in the early hours of yesterday morning following reports of a brawl outside The Smock.

Police and paramedics found a man with a serious head injury.

He was initially taken by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital before medics transferred him to Addenbrooke’s in Cambridgeshire, which specialises in head injuries.

The 35-year-old and 44-year-old men arrested on suspicion of assault early on Sunday morning were questioned by police and have now been bailed pending further enquiries.

They must return to Ipswich police station on May 19.

Today, as detectives continue to trawl through CCTV footage of the incident, those living in the vicinity of the pub told of their shock.

One resident said he had been woken by “girls screaming and shouting”.

“There was lots of noise and to me I just thought it was a normal Saturday night but the next thing I know there were lots of police cars and a couple of ambulances appeared.

“It was at that point that I realised how serious it all was.

“It all started with girls screaming and shouting and within about ten minutes or so there were lots of flashing lights right outside the pub.”

Another resident said she had been kept awake until 2.30am.

She said: “It is terrible that things like this happen.”

Smock landlord Steve Hart said the pub had hosted a party on Saturday night but claimed none of those who had attended the gathering had been involved in the incident.

“We have given police the CCTV to look through but I didn’t see anything because I was behind the bar at the time,” he said.

“It is the first time anything like this has ever happened, and I have been landlord of the pub for a year and have been at the pub for three years.”

The Smock hit the headlines last month when it failed in its attempts to obtain an adult entertainment licence.

Philip Smart, borough councillor for the Bridge Ward, said he hoped the incident was isolated.

He said: “My thoughts are with this man and his family.

“I also feel sorry for the landlord because he has worked hard to make the pub a nice, family venue.

“It is a shame that this has happened but at the recent licensing committee a representative from the police said there had not been any real trouble at the pub for a long time.”

Officers are interested in speaking to drinkers who were in The Smock during the evening.

Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Ipswich CID on 01473 613500.