A man is seriously injured in hospital after an attack outside a Liverpool city centre bar.
Police believe the victim was set upon outside Diablos bar in Slater Street .
A spokesman said the 26-year-old man is thought to have been punched in the face and he remains in "a serious but stable condition" in hospital.
Emergency services were called around 2.40am during the early hours of Thursday morning and CCTV from neighbouring bars is being examined by detectives probing the attack.
Police are also hoping clubbers might have witnessed the attack and will come forward as they search for the man behind the assault.
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A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Detectives in Liverpool are appealing for information following an incident in the early hours of yesterday morning in the city centre.
"Emergency services were called to Slater Street at around 2.40am to reports that a 26-year-old man had been assaulted.
"He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
"It is thought the man was punched by a man outside of Diablos bar.
"CCTV from nearby bars and streets continues to be sought and the scene has been forensically examined."
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Detective Inspector Judith Blease today made her own appeal for witnesses to come forward.
She said: “This is particularly busy part of our city and at this time we’d imagine that lots of people would be travelling to and from the bars or to taxis and would have witnessed this assault.
"I’d ask anyone who was in this area and may have witnessed this incident to get in contact.
"A man has been left in a serious condition as a result of this assault and the person responsible needs to be brought to justice.”
Anyone with any information about this incident can contact @MerPolCC or 101, quoting reference 114 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
