A teenager was today fighting for his life in hospital after being viciously attacked after celebrating the New Year with friends.

Mark Anthony Darun was found slumped on the pavement outside the back of a Pudsey pub at 2.20am yesterday shortly after he left celebrations. He was found with severe head injuries.

An ambulance crew took the 19-year-old from the back of the Victoria Pub on Intake Road in Lowtown to Leeds General Infirmary.

He was today on a life support machine in the intensive care unit.

Mr Darun, who lives in the Wortley area of Leeds, is in a stable but poorly condition.

Police say Mr Darun was in the pub with a group of friends to bring in the year 2002 but left alone between 1.30am and 2am.

He was discovered by two men walking past who called an ambulance.

Detective Inspector Trevor Ambler appealed for people who were in the pub or who helped the injured Mr Darun to come forward.

He said: "This was a particularly vicious and brutal attack on a 19-year-old which has left him fighting for his life.

"As yet we cannot talk to the young man who is unconscious and critically ill on life support.

"There is nothing to suggest he was doing anything other than enjoying New Year's Eve celebrations."

Police are today making house-to-house inquiries and forensic examinations of the scene.

The assault took place a mile from the junction of Leeds Ring Road and Pudsey Road at Bramley where 43-year-old Robert Hanson, of Manchester, died from severe blows to the head on December 23.

There is no official link between the two attacks but police say they are keeping an open mind.

Police want to speak to customers who were in the pub from 8pm on New Year's Eve to 2am New Year's Day.

They would also like to speak to the two men who found Mr Darun but left when other people arrived and stressed they do not believe they are the attackers and have nothing to fear by coming forward. Anyone with information should call police on (0113) 241 4859.