BLOOD was left trickling down a city centre street after a disagreement in a Bradford pub led to an assault which left a man with a suspected fractured skull.

Police tape and a forensic tent guarded the scene on James Street yesterday where the injured man was found by the emergency services.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment, with his condition yesterday described as poorly but stable.

People at the scene, near James Street's junction with John Street and opposite Oastler Shopping Centre, said they believed the man was assaulted with baseball bats and a glass bottle. However, police stated yesterday that there had been "no mention of weapons as far as we are aware".

Blood stained the pavement outside Premier Vision Opticians, and it had also trickled two metres down the street from the forensic tent positioned in the middle of the road. Blood could also be seen on the road after the tent and police cordon had been removed after lunchtime.

The assault happened at about 7.15pm on Tuesday and was sparked by a disagreement in the Boy and Barrel pub, on Westgate, said police.

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Bradford District CID, said: "Police were called to the junction of James Street and John Street in Bradford following a report of an assault.

"Emergency services attended the scene and found a 45-year-old man with head injuries. He was taken to hospital where his condition is currently described as poorly but stable.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of what happened and to identify suspects.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford District CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."

One man who lived near the scene said: "It is no good. I have been here just three months and there have been burglaries and assaults. I am looking to move away."

Ten businesses surrounding the scene were unable to open when owners turned up yesterday morning. Police had sealed off a quarter of James Street and half of James Gate.

One, who did not want to be named, said: "I believe it was a fight involving baseball bats and one man was seriously injured.

"I have not been able to get into the front of my shop and I have had to ring people because I cannot accept deliveries."

Another said he believed the man had been bottled, and added: "I walked for 40 minutes to get to work and got here at 7.30am to be told I couldn't go in.

"We are all self-employed and losing business. The tape doesn't need to be so far up."

He added: "I call this area the Bronx. There's lots of trouble involving alcohol and drugs."

But another said: "I have been here for ten years and I've never seen anything like it. It was a shock."

A woman who said she had been in the Boy and Barrel the night before said she had not seen any trouble, adding: "It was the usual crowd having fun."