Reveller critically ill after Wolverhampton bottle attack

A New Year's Eve reveller was today fighting for life in hospital today after he was hit with a bottle and attacked while on the ground outside a Black Country pub.

Violence flared outside the Royal Oak, in Portobello, Wolverhampton, when two groups clashed. Police said the 18-year-old victim, from Great Barr, had been waiting for a taxi with friends in Vaughan Road.

The attack happened at about 4.30am on New Year's Day.

Det Insp Khalid Kiyani, who is investigating the attack, said today: "This was a tragic end to what should have been a fun New Year's Eve for the group.

"Despite the time we are sure there would have been plenty of people outside the pub. This was a nasty incident which has left a young man very poorly in hospital."

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old reveller was also seriously ill in hospital today following an attack at a Birmingham car park during the early hours of New Year's Day.

The victim was with his girlfriend in Tennant Street car park behind Gatecrasher nightclub, off Broad Street, at around 12.30am when he was punched.

It is understood his attacker, an Asian male, was in a car with several other men before getting out to confront the couple.

Det Sgt Chris Pryor urged witnesses to come forward. He said: "There's a chance someone may have seen an altercation and dismissed it as a run-of-the-mill argument on a night out. However, the victim has suffered a serious head injury and is now in intensive care in hospital."

Elsewhere, police revealed today another man was slashed in the neck and chin with a broken bottle during an attack in Wednesbury town centre at about 2am on New Year Year's Eve.

The incident happened in an alleyway near to the Turk's Head pub, in Lower High Street. The victim suffered a two-inch cut and was taken to hospital. Four men from West Bromwich were arrested and bailed.

The violent incidents were three of more than 1,700 emergency calls throughout New Year's Eve and stretching into January 1, said West Midlands Ambulance Service.

There were 548 calls between 8pm on December 31 and midnight, with another 1,182 calls between midnight and 5am on New Year's Day.

Figures show 1,577 of the calls were received from people in Birmingham and the Black Country with 248 in Staffordshire.

Paramedics said today many of the calls were following alcohol-related incidents.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the two attacks. Call 0345 113 5000.