A CAMBRIDGE United fan left fighting for his life after being brutally attacked in Southend is showing signs of recovery.

Simon Dobbin, 42, of Mildenhall, Suffolk, was put in an induced coma after being attacked outside the Railway Tavern, East Street, Southend, when making his way back to Prittlewell station on March 21.

Mr Dobbin was taken to Southend Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, to be closer to his family.

After spending weeks in the coma his wife Nicole, 43, is now beginning to see signs of improvement.

She said: “He is opening his eyes and following us. We know he can hear, but he is still not moving.

“They are trying to keep him off the ventilator so that he can build his chest muscles up, but they are having to put him on it for a few hours a day.

“He is making small steps, but because it has only been four weeks they are like milestones for us.”

Mr and Mrs Dobbin have been together for 20 years and their daughter Emily, one of his three children, is having to balance visiting her dad in hospital with studying for her GCSEs.

Essex Police’s investigation into the attack which left Mr Dobbin with serious head injuries is ongoing and they have so far arrested and released, on bail, four men on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

A fundraising page, now closed down, raised more than £10,000 to support Mr Dobbin and his family.