A MAN was today fighting for his life in hospital after being found with serious head injuries in an alleyway.

Sam Woodhouse, 21, of Holden Mill Caravan Park off Grane Road, Haslingden, was found in an alleyway between the town's Abbey National Building Society and Hazeldene Estate Agent in Manchester Road at 10.30pm on Monday. The scene is pictured.

Mr Woodhouse sustained serious head injuries and was taken by ambulance to Burnley General where he was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit.

He was then transferred to a specialist head injury unit at Preston Royal Infirmary at 5am yesterday and his condition today was described as "poorly".

Det Insp Simon Leach, of Rawtenstall CID, described the incident as serious and urged anyone who saw anything on Monday night to come forward.

He went on: "The victim is known in Haslingden and up until the morning of the day of the suspected attack had a very distinctive mohican haircut.

"He was seen in the town sometime around 6pm and drank in a variety of pubs during the night, including the Forrester Arms in Pleasant Street, Commercial Hotel in Manchester Road and Roebuck in Lower Deardengate.

"We suspect he had a disagreement with someone in the Commercial and left there sometime before 10.30pm, when he was found in the alleyway which leads to the Dale Street car park." Mr Woodhouse suffered a fractured skull but detectives do not know if a weapon was used in the attack.

Mr Leach added: "We are looking for anyone who was in the area on the night and has any information or anyone who saw Sam or anyone else near the building society.

"We are also appealing for people on the 10.15pm bus to Rochdale to come forward as they might have seen something significant."

Mr Woodhouse was wearing light coloured jeans, a dark blue Lacoste sports jacket, black Rockport boots with a light blue shirt.

He had his hair cut on Monday morning from a mohican into a close crop.

Anyone with any information can contact Rawtenstall Police on 01706 237434, Burnley Police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on Freephone 0800 555 111.

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