POLICE officers in Essex are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Witham on Friday night.

POLICE officers in Essex are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Witham on Friday night.

A man from Braintree was seriously injured in the attack, which happened shortly after 10.30pm.

A group of men set upon the 29-year-old man from Braintree near to Bar 68 on Guithavon Street.

The man had earlier been socialising with two friends, one of whom is disabled, inside The George Public House.

There had been a verbal altercation after which the three men left. A short time later, a group of 10-14 people attacked two of the men, one of whom has now been left in a critical, but stable condition at Broomfield Hospital after he was conveyed there by land ambulance.

On Sunday an 18-year-old man from Hatfield Peverel was arrested at Braintree police station on suspicion of assault. He is currently on police bail until Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Anyone with information in connection with this assault is urged to contact detectives at Braintree police station on 0300 333 4444.