A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after being assaulted by a group of masked men in an Essex seaside town.

Annie Davidson

A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after being assaulted by a group of masked men in an Essex seaside town.

The 28-year-old suffered serious head injuries after being struck with a baseball bat when a group of masked men burst into a flat in Key Court, in Key Road, Clacton.

Police said his condition was “critical” today in the specialist Queen's Hospital in Romford.

Officers are trying to trace witnesses to the chain of events and are linking the attack on Tuesday at just after 6pm with an incident in Wellesley Road earlier the same day.

At around 4.30pm a small group of people had burst into a property and assaulted the occupants but only caused them minor injuries. It is thought the attackers could also have spent time in Clacton town centre prior to both attacks.

The critically ill victim is from north-west London and police believe the attackers may have travelled down to Clacton from London on the train.

They appealed for any commuters who saw anything suspicious or anyone with information about the attacks to contact Clacton police station on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.