A MAN is in a critical condition in hospital after being found with serious head injuries in a North-East street.

Police are now appealing for information about how the man came to be hurt.

Ambulance staff called Northumbria Police at 10.45am this morning (Tuesday, February 4) to say that a man had been found unconscious and with head injuries in the rear lane of Carlisle Terrace in Sunderland.

The 33-year-old man was taken to the Sunderland Royal Hospital. He was later transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Two men, who officers believe were with the man shortly before he was injured, have been spoken to voluntarily by police and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Simon Auty said: "We think that the man may have sustained his injuries around 10.30am in the rear lane of Carlisle Terrace and we need to speak to anyone who was in that area at that time and who might have seen a group of men in the back lane.

"I'd ask anyone who saw or heard anything to contact us with any information that they think could help us ascertain how this man came about his injuries."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, extension 69191, quoting log 408 of February 4.