A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital with serious head injuries after an assault in Brighton last night.

Police closed off Royal Pavilion Gardens with officers stationed at every entrance to the park this morning.

One witness said he saw the homeless victim "with a big knife hanging out of him" last night.

Another said she saw about five men, who appeared to be homeless, punching each other in the head in a "massive brawl" after a man fell out of a wheelchair.

Police said the serious assault happened close to Brighton Museum at just before midnight.

The victim, a rough sleeper in his 50s, was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in a critical condition, police said.

The gardens are likely to remain closed for several hours while forensic investigations are carried out.

John Baldock, general manager of Theatre Royal, said: "It’s terrible that this has happened but there’s always issues on our part of New Road with and it’s a huge concern in this area.

"Unfortunately these things will always happen but I appreciate the effort the council and the police have put into this area to help it improve."

Nicholas Buret, manager of Polpo restaurant in New Road, said: "There’s a huge homeless presence on New Road and they’re always fighting and taking drugs – I’m just totally indifferent when these things happen now.

"I lived in London for 10 years and never saw anything like it but it’s normal in Brighton now.

"It seems to just come with the territory."

Tourists Matt Dyson and Sally Webb from Somerset said: "We’re on holiday to Brighton for the week and came to visit Pavilion Gardens today as we heard from our friends in the city that it was a great place to visit.

"We can’t get in as the police have closed the place and it’s just shocking to hear that this has happened." 

There were two cordons of police tape this morning: one that appeared to stretch around Brighton Museum and another around the outer perimeter.

Six marked police cars and a scientific support unit were at the scene today, with more than a dozen uniformed officers, plus plain-clothes detectives wearing purple latex gloves.

Crime scene investigators wearing white suits have been combing the area for evidence.

An ambulance was also seen leaving the gardens this morning.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the incident is linked to reports of a large fight outside Theatre Royal in New Road at about 10pm yesterday.

Anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Dickenson.

Alternatively, you can visit the Crimestoppers website or contact the independent charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.