Brawl victim in serious condition

A 29-year-old man with head and jaw injuries is today in a "serious but stable" condition following a mass brawl outside a Stourbridge pub.

The brawl broke out after an argument between members of a coach party returning from a night out exploded into violence, police believe.

The coach party was dropped off in the early hours of Saturday morning near to The Broadway pub.

Shortly after, residents described a "pitched battle" breaking out, with bricks and bottles thought to be used.

Three of the men were injured and one, aged 29, was still in hospital today being treated for head and jaw injuries. Police say he is in a "serious but stable" condition. A second man has been released from hospital after being treated for head injuries, while the third man suffered neck injuries but did not require hospital treatment.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Kendrick, leading the investigation, said: "We have reason to believe the fight involved nine or 10 males who had been on a coach trip.

"It happened after the coach had dropped them off. We don't know why the fight broke out and we are keen to hear from any witnesses who may have seen or heard anything." Businesses were disrupted by closure of The Broadway on Saturday, with some losing hundreds of pounds in custom.

Angela Owen, spokeswoman for Salon 2000, said they had lost about £300 on Saturday and eventually decided to close the shop at 11am.

"The book for the day was very busy on Saturday but the vast majority of customers were turned away by police while the investigation was continuing," she said. "We estimate to have lost around £300 on Saturday because of the road closure." Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Halesowen CID on 0845 113 5000.