A man is fighting for his life after being attacked in the street in a suspected robbery in the early hours of the morning.

The 31-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital with serious head injuries following the incident and police have launched a major investigation into the alleged attack.

The area around Oakworth Road in Keighley where the incident is alleged to have taken place was cordoned off by police for most of yesterday.

Officers carried out a fingertip search of the road in the hunt for clues and an underwater team was called in to search drains in the area.

Three people were later arrested on suspicion of assault and robbery following the incident near the town centre at 1.45am yesterday.

Police have launched a major investigation following the alleged attack in near Keighley town centre, at about 1.45am. Detective Superintendent Tim Forber, who is leading the investigation said a 31-year-old man, a 22-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and robbery and were still being questioned in connection with the investigation.

Det Supt Forber said: "This was a very serious incident. The man is in a critical condition in intensive care. He has been assaulted and as a result of that he has suffered head injuries. We have currently got three prisoners in custody and we are in the process of interviewing them."

Traffic had to be directed away from the scene of the alleged attack yesterday as officers carried out their investigation, and a police spokesman said two homes in the Keighley area had been searched.

Residents living near the scene said they were "shocked" that the alleged attack had happened so close to home.

One mother-of-two, who lives in the area and did not want to be named, said: "There have been police around all day since early this morning.

"I don't know what happened but it has come as a shock to me.

"You just don't expect this kind of thing on your doorstep."

Abul Barkat, 40, owns Habeebs Newsagents in High Street, just yards away from the crime scene.

He said: "I opened up at seven o'clock and the police had already cordoned off the area and nobody could get through. I have been in my shop all day and people have been coming in and saying someone has been attacked and asking what is going on.

He added: "It is only a couple of months ago that there was a stabbing near Keighley College. It seems to be happening more and more."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said yesterday: "Police attended a report of an assault in Oakworth Road, Keighley, where a 31-year-old man was taken to hospital. He is in a critical condition. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of assault and robbery.

"An extensive search is underway in Oakworth Road and at two houses in the Keighley area."

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Oakworth Road area between 1.30am and 2am yesterday morning to contact them.

Anyone with information should call Det Supt Forber at Keighley police station on (01535) 617167.