A MAN left critically injured after being attacked in Darwen has regained consciousness in hospital.

Police said it may now take three or four weeks before the full extent of 44-year-old Stephen Higginbottom’s injuries become apparent.

Mr Higginbottom suffered serious head injuries after he was attacked outside the Golden Grill takeaway, Market Street, at around 4am on Monday, April 13.

Detective Inspector Neil Ashton said CCTV has shown there were “scores of people” outside the takeaway that witnessed the attack but “barely a handful of people” have come forward to help police.

He said: “We are hunting for a man after a very serious assault but it could be a murder investigation easily.

“He suffered critical head injuries and it will be a while before we know the full extent of the damage that the attack has done.”

Mr Ashton said doctors will assess Mr Higginbottom’s condition and it is not known when detectives will be able to speak to him about what happened.

Mr Higginbottom, of Carr Road, Darwen, had left Roxy nightclub in the town and gone to the Golden Grill takeaway, Market Street.

Police said he had gone up to several people in the street to talk to them, before he approached a couple walking past. Officers believe this resulted in a verbal altercation and the male then hit Mr Higginbottom before he and his girlfriend walked away.

Mr Higginbottom was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital and then transferred to Royal Preston’s intensive care unit, where remains.

Detective Inspector Andy Hulme, of Blackburn CID, said: “This assault has left a man in a very serious condition in hospital.

“I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the attack, or who has any other information, to contact us.

"This area is frequented by taxi drivers so it is possible they may have seen something, while people would have been leaving the nightclub at the time, and they may also have witnessed this attack.”

Anyone with information should call police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.