A MAN is continuing to fight for his life after an assault in a pub at the weekend.

The 31-year-old was taken to hospital after being assaulted by another customer in The Spread Eagle in Manchester Road, Kearsley on Saturday night.

Officers were called to the pub at 11.25pm on Saturday, where they arrested a 36-year-old man.

But police confirmed that charges have not yet been made and their enquiries are ongoing.

The man remains in a critical condition in hospital.

New management, who took over the pub only two weeks ago, expressed their concern for the man's welfare.

They said their "thoughts are with the man and his family."

A spokesman for Star Pubs & Bars said: “There was an incident between two customers at The Spread Eagle on Manchester Road in Kearsley in which a man was injured and taken to hospital.

“Our thoughts are with him and his family.”

A neighbour living in Manchester Road said the pub was normally quiet and had been shut during the summer.

He said he had seen “police coming and going all morning” yesterday and seen them in the back garden of the pub.

A gate to the back of the pub off Slackey Brow had been taped off by police officers and a uniformed officer was monitoring the scene.

Yesterday afternoon Crime Scene Investigation officers arrived to investigate the assault.

A sign at the front door of the pub said: “Apologies. Due to unforeseen circumstances we will be closed this afternoon. We will be opening this evening.”

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information should contact police on 101 quoting reference 2538 of September 29, 2018.