A man is seriously ill in hospital after suffering severe bleeding in a police cell.

A 42-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary is seriously ill in hospital after he began bleeding severely in a custody block in Hastings police station in Bohemia Road.

The homeless man had been originally arrested at 9.30am on Tuesday after he was seen in the gardens of homes in Grange Road, Hastings.

Officers were made aware that the man had a previous medical condition so the 42-year-old was taken to Conquest Hospital in Hastings l to be assessed by medical staff.

Shortly before 6am today he was assessed by staff at as being fit for release and was taken to Hastings police station to be questioned about why he had been in the gardens on Tuesday.

As he was being taken to a cell he began bleeding heavily from his groin.

Officers gave him first aid while they waited for paramedics to take him to hospital.

He is currently in a critical but stable condition at Conquest Hospital.

See the latest crime figures in your area with our street-level crime map

The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.