A mass brawl involving around 20 people in Oxford this morning has left a man seriously injured in hospital. 

The fight broke out in Broad Street near the junction with Magdalen Street at about 3am. 

A man in his thirties was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in a serious but not life-threatening condition. 

Police said his attacker is believed to be a man, in his early twenties, who is black, around 5 ft 7ins with cropped hair and a beard.

A section Broad Street in Oxford city centre was cordoned off by police in the early hours and forensic teams swept the area for evidence.

Staff who work in the shops in the street stood outside the cordon waiting to open stores.

The shops within the cordoned off area included Boswell & Co, The Buttery, Isola, Wendy's News and The Varsity Shop.

The rest of the street was open from Turl Street.

Staff from visitor information centre Experience Oxfordshire said they had been told it was a crime scene.

Customer assistant Melanie Clarke-Jacques said: "We just showed up just before nine and were told it was a crime scene.

"We are still providing our service and will operate from the bench across the road."

Oxford Mail:

Duty manager of Boswell & Co Charlie Greenwood said he arrived at 5:45am to open up the store.

He added: "I showed up for work and the police were already here.

"It's a waiting game for us, we haven't be able to open the shop, but our staff are here."

South Central Ambulance service were called to the city centre just after 3am where a man, who appeared to have a head injury, was taken to the John Radcliffe hospital.