A clubber is fighting for his life after he was attacked just hours into the New Year.

The 25-year-old needed emergency brain surgery after he was injured in a fight outside the Ocean Rooms in Brighton early on Friday morning.

Police and paramedics across Sussex had already received a deluge of calls as New Year celebrations were marred by violence for scores of revellers.

The area outside the Ocean Rooms in Morley Street, Brighton, was cordoned off after the attack, which took place at about 6am.

The injured man was reportedly in the smoking area in an alley at the side of the club when a fight broke out.

He suffered a serious head injury when he was punched and fell to the ground.

His attacker was last seen leaving the alley at the front of the club.

Witnesses dialled 999 and paramedics rushed the victim to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

From there he was transferred to Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre in Haywards Heath for surgery. He was still critically ill last night.

A 24-year-old man from Brighton, who was arrested shortly after midday on Friday on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, was questioned by detectives before being released on bail until January 13.

In 1999 father-of-two Jay Abatan died on the same street after a dispute at a taxi rank.