A 24-YEAR-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after a fight broke out in Marlow in the early hours of this morning.

Police were called around 2.30am to reports of a group of five or six men fighting using glass and bottles outside the Cross Keys pub in Spittal Street.

At around 3am a 24-year-old man was admitted to Wexham Park Hospital with injuries sustained at the incident in Spittal Street. He is said to be in a serious condition.

Det Sgt Richard Earl, investigating officer, said: “This was a nasty incident which has left one man in hospital. “This took place on the street near a pub and so there were likely to have been people about who could have seen what happened and can help us with our inquiry.

“We would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact us as soon as possible.”

The pub was taped off by police this morning but has since reopened for business. A section of Dean Street car park was taped off.

Landlord of the Cross Keys pub, Michael Kellas, said: “When we closed up there was a fight going on in the car park. We called the police. The fight lasted about two minutes and then everyone went.”

He added: “Sadly when people leave if something happens outside it is beyond our control.”

Manager of Villa D’Este next door, Mr. A. R Oliveira said when they left the restaurant at 11.30pm it was quiet.

He said: “When we came in this morning and saw the police tape we were surprised. It was nothing to do with us.”

And he said since the pub has had bouncers on the door at night there seemed to have been little trouble. The monthly Sunday Market was held today in the Dean Street car park.

The market organiser Tricia Farnell said the police cordon has really affected business.

She said: “I would think there would be a 50% knock on to our business. It was a shock coming in this morning.

“The whole car park was cordoned off at first.”

She said they were allowed on half of the car park and she has been helping people park all morning. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Det Sgt Earl on the non-emergency number 101 or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.