A NORTHWICH man is in a critical condition following an attack on Northwich railway bridge.

Philip Rennion was hit with a metal or wooden bar while walking along Station Road on Sunday morning.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said the 30-year-old victim was left with serious head injuries when he was attacked by a man brandishing a metal or wooden bar at around 1.25am.

He said: "The male offender was seen to run away along Station Road towards Northwich town centre.

"He is believed to have been wearing dark clothing."

A spokesman for Cheshire and Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service said: "We were called to an incident outside Northwich railway station at around 1.30am on Sunday, June 25, following reports that a man had been assaulted.

"It was a 'red call' so was considered to be serious and life threatening. When we arrived he had lost a lot of blood from his head and paramedics took him to Leighton Hospital."

On Monday, police were appealing to residents to check their gardens for the weapon thought to have been used in the attack but the object has since been recovered by officers investigating the incident.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police confirmed Mr Rennion had since been transferred to Walton Hospital's neurological unit in Liverpool and as the Guardian went to press last night, Tuesday, the victim was still in a critical but stable condition.

l A 26-year-old Northwich man appeared at Northwich Magistrates' Court, yesterday, Tuesday, facing a charge of grievous bodily harm.

He was remanded in police custody and committed to appear at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, July 4.