A TEENAGER is in hospital with a serious head injury after a group fight in which he is thought to have been attacked with a brick.

The 18-year-old, from Clacton, was taken to Queen’s Hospital, in Romford, with a fractured skull after the fight in an alleyway between Coopers Lane and Trunett Road, Clacton.

Police said the victim was stable on Tuesday after undergoing an operation.

A neighbour claimed the teenager had been hit on the head with bricks taken from a nearby garden wall.

Barabra Ludlow, who lives on Coopers Road, said: “I thought it was a car accident because I heard a bang. The next I heard was shouting around the back.

“I presumed someone had smashed their car. I didn’t realise they had taken bricks from next door’s front garden and were chucking them about.

“I came around the front and the young man was on the path on the floor. Somebody said he had been hit with a brick.

“I think he was unconscious. By the time they took him away in the ambulance I would say he was disorientated.

“There was also a kitchen knife on the floor, about a foot long. But I think they said it was just the brick that caused the injury.”

She said armed police had been called to the alley, which was quickly sealed off.

The 54-year-old also raised concerns about the way the area was changing.

She said: “I don’t know what is happening around here, it used to be such a quiet and lovely place to live, but in the last couple of years it has gone downhill.

“It is certainly changing.”

A large pool of dried blood was still visible on the pedestrian walk where the fight had taken place the next day.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident at about 7.40pm on Monday. Police were continuing to question them on Tuesday.

All of those arrested were from Clacton, and included two boys aged 17, two men aged 20, and a 16-year-old, all of whom were arrested on suspicion of assault.

A man aged 19 was also arrested for affray and a 33-year-old for being drunk and disorderly.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

If you can help, call Clacton police on 0300 3334444.