A 20-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life today following a serious assault in Ipswich.The news came on the same day as Suffolk police launched a crackdown on violent crime, which topped 10,000 incidents for the first time last year.

A 20-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life today following a serious assault in Ipswich.

The news came on the same day as Suffolk police launched a crackdown on violent crime, which topped 10,000 incidents for the first time last year. A thousand of those offences were reported in May alone.

The victim of the latest attack was with three friends when the assault took place, just after they had left Zest nightclub, in Princes Street around 2am yesterday.

The group were halfway across Princes Street bridge, when two of them were set upon by another gang of around six men, who they had previously had a brief altercation with outside the club.

A series of blows were then rained down on the victim, who was punched, fell to the floor and received another blow to the head.

Two women then intervened and pulled the offender away.

After originally being taken to Ipswich Hospital, the injured man, who lives on the Suffolk/Essex border, has now been transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. He has been operated on for serious head injuries and his condition is described as critical by hospital staff.

Detective inspector Graham Moss, who is leading the investigation, said: "We're very keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident. Around the time the assault took place the area was busy with people leaving pubs and clubs. We need to speak to these people.

"We're also appealing to the two women who intervened and pulled the offender away from the victim to contact us."

The offending group is described as comprising of two black men and approximately four white men. They were seen to walk off in the direction of the Railway Station turn right towards Ancaster Road.

At today's launch of the purge on violent crime assistant chief constable of Suffolk Colin Langham-Fitt announced said: "What we're saying is that enough is enough. People have the right to be able to go out and enjoy themselves, whatever the time, without the fear of violence. The public should not have to put up with the bad behaviour of a minority of irresponsible troublemakers. It is up to us to work with the licensees to ensure these people do not spoil things for everyone else."

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call detective sergeant Bernie Morgan at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.