A man has appeared in court charged with a brutal attack that has left a nightclub reveller fighting for his life.

Chancey Cummings, 25, of no fixed address, is accused of assaulting Ricky Brown in an alley near the Ocean Rooms in Morley Street, Brighton, early on New Year's Day.

Mr Brown, 25, was taken to the Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre, Haywards Heath, for emergency brain surgery after the attack.

Yesterday he was still in a critical condition.

It is believed he had been outside the club having a cigarette shortly before 6am when a fight started and he was punched in the face.

He fell to the ground and his attacker was seen to disappear down a nearby alleyway.

Police and paramedics were called and Mr Brown was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital before being transferred to the specialist brain unit.

The police had been called to several incidents of violence at the club earlier in the night.

Cummings was arrested in London on Saturday night and appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He is charged with assault and attempted assault.

Cummings did not enter a plea during the brief hearing and was remanded in custody until January 11.

His case is expected to be transferred to Lewes Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on March 26.