A MAN who visited York for a night out with friends was today in a critical condition in the city's hospital after an apparent bloody assault.

Detectives were today continuing their efforts to piece together the movements of Andrew Hickox, 42, from Elland, near Halifax, which led to him being discovered bleeding heavily from serious head injuries, in Lower Friargate early yesterday.

Although a fall or a road accident has not been ruled out as a cause of his injuries, detectives are treating the incident as a serious assault and are appealing for witnesses.

It is not known how long Mr Hickox was lying injured before he was discovered, and no possible weapon has been found.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Thewsey, who is leading the investigation, said passers-by discovered Mr Hickox lying in the street at 1.15am yesterday. He was taken by ambulance to York Hospital.

DCI Thewsey said: "This poor man's been found with serious head injuries and we are not yet sure how he got them.

"In terms of evidence, we have got to look at the worst case scenario, so we are treating it as assault."

Mr Hickox travelled to York with his dog and met up with three friends, also from the Halifax area, who had been playing golf on Saturday.

The group, who were thought to be staying in a York guesthouse, went into the city centre at about 9.30pm.

According to Mr Thewsey, the group visited a number of pubs including Yates's Wine Lodge, in Church Lane, York, before Mr Hickox became separated from his friends.

DCI Thewsey said: "Andrew is not a clubber, so he wasn't going to spend the whole night with his friends.

"They were staying in a guest house and he had his dog with him, so his friends were expecting him to go back and see to the pet. We are not sure what time they became separated."

Mr Hickox's parents, Harold and Doreen, rushed to his bedside yesterday.

His uncle, David Hickox, also of Halifax, said: "Andrew is a very nice lad. He's a quiet, family man. We are all in shock."

He said his nephew, who has two brothers who also visited him in hospital, had a caravan in York so he regularly visited the city.

The victim was discovered at the entrance to an alleyway linking Lower Friargate with Cumberland Street.

Both roads, together with sections of Kings Staith and King Street, were cordoned off while the area was searched.

Updated: 15:19 Monday, July 21, 2003