Ipswich residents have spoken of their fear of anti-social behaviour in the town centre following a serious assault.

A man in his 30s was taken to Ipswich Hospital in a critical condition following the assault in the early hours of Saturday morning, although he has since been discharged.

Officers were called to Dogs Head Street, outside the Plough pub, at 4.13am after receiving reports of an injured man.

Ipswich Star: Police were called to the road close to the Plough pub at 4.13amPolice were called to the road close to the Plough pub at 4.13am (Image: Jude Holden)

It is believed that he sustained serious head injuries after an assault, with 35-year-old Paul Andrews, of Austin Street, Ipswich, arrested nearby at 4.20am.

He was charged with causing grievous bodily harm, a Suffolk Police spokeswoman confirmed on Saturday night.

Kim Francis, the manager at St Elizabeth Hospice on Dogs Head Street, said disorder in the town makes her feel afraid.

She said: “Fights happen on and off around here a lot. When it gets hotter you can start hearing screaming and shouting going on at all times of day.

“From early in the morning to last thing at night. People congregate down near the busses.

“I don’t like getting the bus there because people will push past you and start screaming and shouting at you for no reason."

Ipswich Star: A cordon was set up at the sceneA cordon was set up at the scene (Image: Jude Holden)

Ms Francis did not think the recent actions taken by police had done much to change antisocial behaviour.

She said: “They got rid of the benches around the bus station to stop people loitering but everyday there’s always people screaming or shouting.

“But this is just the way towns go. I don’t feel safe staying here too late at night.

“Someone needs to do something about it all because some people don’t want to come into town or do any shopping. We’ve lost trade gradually because of it.

"Things aren’t how they used to be.”

Kieran Clarke, employee at Langden Games on Tacket Street, did not think such extreme violence was so common but said arguments happened regularly. 

He said: “We find that nothing serious will usually come of it or the street security will get called in and break it up.”

Andrews was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Monday, March 11.

Suffolk Police have appealed for anyone who was in the vicinity of Dogs Head Street between 3.45am and 4.45am on Saturday morning to contact Ipswich CID on 101, quoting reference 37/13250/24.