WITNESSES are being asked to come forward following an incident outside a venue in Meads Corner, Purfleet in the early hours of yesterday.

Officers were called by ambulance staff at around 4.20am, and told that a man in his 20s had sustained a serious injury.

When found, the man was unconscious and was taken to hospital in London.

Officers attended and conducted a search of the area.

They recovered a baseball bat and believe this is what the victim could have been assaulted with.

It also believed he received a single punch, which rendered him unconscious.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about the incident or was near the Circus Tavern around the time the man was found.

The victim is now in a stable condition in hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Grays CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.