POLICE are appealing for help to solve a mystery of how a young England football fan sustained injuries after a World Cup game last week.

The man had been watching the game against Trinidad and Tobago with a group a friends, in Bishop Auckland, on Thursday afternoon.

After the match, he spent the rest of the night visiting town centre pubs, but became separated from his friends.

At about midnight, he went to the bus station and flagged a taxi that dropped him off near the Co-op store, in Cockfield.

The man, who is in his 20s, was found by two young women half-an-hour later, lying face down in the middle of the road and covered in blood.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital where he was treated overnight for a head injury and other grazes.

He was later released, but had to return to hospital for further observation of the head injury and is now recovering at home.

Detectives at Crook police station, who are investigating the incident, say the man cannot remember how he sustained the injuries or being dropped off in the village.

Detective Constable Karl Hopps said: "When the girls found him there was no one around. We want to talk to anyone who saw him and also need to track down the taxi driver.

"The injuries are a complete mystery. They are not consistent with an assault and, although we are not ruling anything out, they are also not consistent with a collision with a vehicle."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Hopps on 0845 60 60 365.