SEVEN people have been arrested as man is left fighting for his life following a possible assault in Sunderland.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said officers received a report from a member of the public that a man was lying unconscious on Tel EL Kebir Road in Hendon, Sunderland, at around 8.55am on Saturday.

Emergency services attended and the 47-year-old man has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

He remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Inquiries to establish how the man came to be injured are ongoing, but officers are investigating the possibility that he is the victim of an assault.

Four women, aged 43, 44, 25 and 23, and three men, aged 37, 27 and 24, have been arrested by police in connection with the incident.

All seven currently remain in police custody.

Officers are continuing to conduct inquiries in the area today and anyone with any concerns should speak to police in the area.

Anyone with information, or who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously on Tel EL Kebir Road, should call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log 312 29/06/19.