Detectives are hunting a vicious attacker who battered the head of a 21-year-old man near a nightclub in Bradford city centre.

A major investigation is under way after the victim suffered serious injuries in the apparently motiveless assault in Barry Street at 1am on Saturday.

Witnesses saw the man, who had been in The Dream Bar And Nightclub, being struck at least three times to the head by what may have been a pickaxe handle.

Detective Sergeant Gerry Corrigan, of Bradford South CID, said the victim was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

He had received serious head injuries but they were not life-threatening.

"It looks at this stage like a motiveless attack," said DS Corrigan.

He said witnesses spoke of at least three blows being delivered with what may have been a pickaxe handle or a baseball bat.

"This was not a fist fight. If someone hits another person with a weapon such as that, they have no idea what injuries they could cause," DS Corrigan said.

He said the victim was left lying in the street about 20 yards from The Dream Bar And Nightclub. He had left the club at 1am.

DS Corrigan said the injured man was believed to be a Somalian living in Bradford.

The attacker is described as an Asian man of proportionate build wearing a dark suit-style jacket and dark denim jeans.

The weapon has not been found.

DS Corrigan said inquiries were being made both inside the club and on the street.

He appealed to anyone who saw anything in the nightclub, or who witnessed the attack, to come forward.

He said the street was closed off on Saturday, one of the busiest shopping days in the run-up to Christmas, because forensic teams were making a painstaking search for evidence.

Barry Street was cordoned off between Office Furniture, on the corner of Sunbridge Road, and Bootylicious nightclub half way along the street.

Police vans blocked both ends of the cordon while officers were drafted in to take on positions at either end.

Anyone with any information about the attack, or events leading up to it, should contact Bradford South CID on 0845 6060606.