POLICE have issued an appeal to the taxi driver who gave a lift home to a man who was later found unconscious in the street with severe head injuries.

The man, believed to be in his early 20s, had been on a night out in Middlesbrough before catching a lift home to Darlington.

He was found lying by the roadside early on Saturday with an injury to the back of his head.

He is being treated in intensive care in hospital.

Police are still trying to find out what happened to him.

Detective Inspector Billy Hugill, who is leading the case at Darlington CID, said he would like to hear from the taxi driver who took the injured man home.

"As far as the investigation goes we are still trying to find out exactly what happened," said Det Insp Hugill.

"It is not clear if this was an assault or not.

"We are hoping someone will come forward to help our inquiries."

The man, who has short brown hair and is 6ft tall, was with a second man, also in his early 20s, when he caught the cab from outside the Chicago Rock Cafe, in Wilson Street, Middlesbrough, early on Saturday.

The taxi dropped the pair off at the junction of Park Lane and Smithfield Road, in Darlington, between 3am and 3.30am.

The injured man was found lying unconscious on the pavement in Parkside at 4.30am.

He was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

"We know he had been to Middlesbrough and got a taxi from the Chicago Rock nightclub,"

said Det Insp Hugill.

"Nothing seemed to happen there, but he left and got a taxi back to Darlington.

"There are a lot of taxi divers in Middlesbrough and we have been in touch with many already, but we have not been able to trace the person who dropped him off.

"There has been no change in relation to his condition.

"He is still critical but stable and under sedation.

"If anyone has any information about this incident, we would appreciate it if they got in touch."

Police carried out door-to-door inquiries in the Skerne Park and Bank Top areas of Darlington the morning after the man was found.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Darlington CID on 0845-60-60-365.