Detectives investigating an assault have issued CCTV images of four people they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

It happened in the early hours of Monday, August 18, in Short Street, Southend .

A 20-year-old man was on his way home from at night out at the Churchills Bar in the town when he was approached by a group of men who started assaulting him, knocking him to the ground, where he continued to be punched and kicked.

The victim, who is in his 20s and lives locally, returned home but was admitted to hospital a few days later when his condition worsened. Doctors found that he had a fractured skull and bleed on the brain.

The attack happened in Essex Street , near the junction with Chichester Road at around 2am. It is believed to have been an unprovoked attack.

Anyone who recognises the four men from the CCTV images taken from a Southend takeaway store is asked to contact Pc Chris Flynn at Southend CID via Essex Police 101 or they can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.