A MAN is in hospital with serious head injuries after an incident outside a Corfe Mullen pub.

Police were initially called to a fight at The Dorset Soldier in Wareham Road at around 9.30pm on Saturday, July 7.

Officers rushed to the scene, but the fight had broken up and no reports of a crime were made.

However, around half an hour later, police received another report that a 49-year-old man from the village had been knocked unconscious in the car park of the pub.

The attacker, another man, was reported to have left the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital. He suffered serious head and neck injuries during the incident.

No arrests have been made.

Detective Inspector Andy Roberts, of Bournemouth CID, said: “There is an indication that the initial fight and the assault 30 minutes later are linked. A man has been left with serious injuries in hospital.

“I am appealing for any witnesses to the fight in the pub as well as the subsequent incident in the car park or anyone with information to come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180106475.