A man who suffered a fractured skull in New Cross after a night out had been carrying a limited edition record, detectives believe.

Christopher Mapleston, 29, was found lying in Arbuthnot Road, close to Pepys Road, at 3am on Sunday, November 20 with a cut to his head.

He had last been seen by friends who told detectives he had with him a limited edition vinyl record called Awakening by Japanese artist Hiroshi Sato featuring Wendy Matthews.

The record is missing.

Paramedics from London Ambulance Service took Mr Mapleston to a hospital in south London where it was found he had suffered a fractured skull.

Since his admission, there has a slight improvement and he remains in a stable condition, according to a Met Police spokesman.

Due to his injuries, he has not been able to tell officers what happened that night.

Mr Mapleston's friends said they had been socialising with him that evening, and last saw him running for the N343 bus close to Peckham Rye train station between 1.30am and 2am.

It is not known what happened between this time and when he was found in the road less than two miles away.

Detective Constable Terry Martin, from Lewisham CID, said: "We cannot be certain whether Christopher's injury was the result of a fall or an attack.

"One line of enquiry is that he may have been the victim of a robbery as he was found without his iPhone 6. 

"Having spoken to his friends we now know that Christopher was also in possession of a limited edition record which has yet to be located.

"I am appealing to anyone who may have found it or has been offered the item for sale to get in contact with us immediately.

"I would also like to speak to anyone who saw Christopher between the railway station and Arbuthnot Road. He was wearing a distinctive green camouflage jacket.

"Have you found a mobile phone in this area of New Cross? Any piece of information, however small, will help us to discover what happened in the early hours of that morning."

Anyone who may have seen Mr Mapleston, who is white, 5ft 7ins and slim with brown hair, that night should get in touch with officers. 

He was wearing a green camouflage jacket, black trousers and trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Martin on 07393 006 967 or officers at Lewisham via 101. 

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.