A man is in hospital with serious head injuries following an alleged assault in Northfleet late last night.

Officers were called at 11.46pm to The Hill Pharmacy to reports of a man lying in the pavement bleeding heavily.

He was taken to hospital and remains in a serious condition while a man who was arrested on suspicion of assault remains in police custody.

The area was taped off while this morning while forensic teams carried out an investigation.

Stuart Mathews, 25, has lived in The Hill for a year and heard the "commotion" from his flat last night.

He told News Shopper: "People started making a fuss after it happened.

"There was no screaming or shouting though.

"I didn't see the man but I saw a rucksack lying on the ground and four girls and three boys.

"I heard accusations going round – it was more girls making a lot of noise.

"There was a lot of commotion and people started getting upset after the police arrived.

"I mean, it's Gravesend – they run around the road round here like wild animals."

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "There was a lot of blood on the ground.

"It looked like someone had been murdered."

Kent County Council Emergency Response workers Keith Boast and Wayne Boast arrived shortly after 11am this morning to clean the pavement. 

Mr Boast said: "We just know a man fell down and is in hospital now. We've just been called to clean the blood off. 

"We're not sure what happened."

Did you see what happened or were on the scene last night? Call 01689 885702, e-mail tim.macfarlan@london.newsquest.co.uk or tweet @NewsShopperTim