THE VIOLENT attack on a "lovable" family man, left for dead behind a town centre bank, has left friends and staff at a Spa pub stunned and upset.

Stephen Halsall, 37 of Albert Street, Droitwich yesterday regained consciousness in Worcester Royal Hospital.

He was beaten across the face and left unconscious in a savage attack on Sunday night, which police say may be linked to a fight involving up to 30 people.

Carlene Webb, landlady of the Star & Garter pub, where Stephen had been drinking that night was astounded.

She said: "Everyone here is shocked by the attack, it's terrible and we can't believe Stephen was left for dead. Everyone loves him, he is such a character and is always making everyone laugh.

"We really don't have a clue who did it and believe the police are still looking for witnesses. We just think it was a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The couple, who own the High Street pub, intended to visit Stephen in hospital yesterday. Lorry driver, Stephen is a good friend of her husband, Dave Webb who owns the High Street pub. Stephen plays every Sunday for their Star and Garter football team. He has a wife, Christine, two teenage daughters and a two-year-old toddler.

Window cleaner, Alan Hall was one of the people to discover Mr Halsall behind the Halifax bank in St Andrew's Street just before 8.30am on Monday morning. He declined to comment.

A Droitwich police spokesman confirmed they believe the incident could be linked to a fight involving up to 30 people near the Star and Garter around 10.20pm on Sunday night - in which an officer used CS gas.

Hypothermia

The spokesman said: "He had been severely beaten about the head and face and had sustained cuts to his head - and extensive bruising and swelling to his face. He was believed to have been lying outside all night and was suffering from hypothermia."

Police are still appealing for witnesses and are continuing to study CCTV footage to try ascertain whether he was involved in the fight and to trace the route he could have taken from High Street.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Droitwich Police on 08457 444 888, quoting 29C/081203.