A MAN suffered a life-threatening blood clot to the brain after a night out ended with him lying unconscious in an alleyway near his home.

Police were today trying to establish if Martin Mayor, 47, sustained serious head injuries as a result of a fall or an attack.

Mr Mayor, 47, was discovered lying in a pool of blood in an alleyway at the bottom of Mercer Street, off Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, by youths at around 1.30am on Saturday.

The youths contacted police and helped Mr Mayor to his house in nearby Arthur Street where police found him unconscious. He was taken to Blackburn Infirmary, but his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to Royal Preston Hospital where he underwent an operation to remove a blood clot from the brain. He is now in a stable condition.

Police were hoping he would be well enough today to tell them what happened.

Mr Mayor's house in Arthur Street was sealed off and police began a forensic examination of the property at noon on Saturday. Other side streets and back alleys were also sealed off and there was also a police tape around the Oddfellows Arms.

Police believe Mr Mayor was drinking in The Lamb public house in Whalley Road until around 1.30pm and have appealed for people who may have seen him in the pub, or in the Whalley Road and Mercer Street area, to come forward. He was wearing a dark coloured hat and a black leather jacket.

Detective Inspector Ian Critchley, from Blackburn CID, said: "The man was found by some youths next to a pool of blood. He was taken to his house which we are just about to examine. We will be talking to people in nearby houses and in local pubs.

"It may well be that he has fallen and we are looking to discount the possibility of an assault.

"Mr Mayor is still sedated and still not able to talk to us, but we will be hoping to speak to him later this afternoon."

Anyone with information can call 01254 353569.