A SAINTS fan has been left fighting for his life after being attacked by a 20-strong gang of yobs in the street.

The 47-year-old suffered serious head injuries when he was assaulted by the mob as he walked along the road.

Police last night said he was in a critical condition at Southampton General Hospital as they revealed three school pupils had been held on suspicion of carrying out the attack.

Two boys aged 15 were arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. A third boy - aged just 14 - was arrested by officers a short time later.

All three were quizzed and since released on bail.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene in New Road, Hythe, around 8.30pm on Sunday - just hours after the final whistle went on the televised Liverpool v Saints match.

Resident Diana Forrest said: "I didn't even know anything had happened until the police began turning up outside our house.

"I went to look outside and could see a lot of youngsters about as the ambulance crew got the man into the back of the ambulance."

Another resident, who didn't want to be named, added: "I looked outside and there were police cars parked right across our driveway clearing the road and washing it down.

"It's not exactly something you expect to see on your doorstep."

One member of staff at a nearby fast food outlet told the Daily Echo how the victim, who was wearing a Saints shirt, was walking along the road between St John's Church and Barclays Bank when the trouble erupted between him and a group of youths.

Beverley Thorne, a New Forest District Councillor for Hythe, was horrified to hear of the attack.

She said: “To have someone attacked by youths in Hythe is awful – I can’t think of anything else like that that’s happened here and certainly not in my time as a councillor.”

Cllr James Binns, for Dibden Purlieu ward, who said he was speaking on behalf of fellow councillors, added: “We think it’s a terrible thing that has happened. We have to do something to prevent this from happening in the future because Hythe is generally a very quiet and peaceful village.

“We don’t have issues like this so it’s somewhat a shock to hear of this event so we’ll do everything we can in the future to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Police today said they have increased patrols as they urged those who witnessed the attack to come forward.

Detective Constable Marie Todd said: “We understand that a lot of people witnessed this incident. We are appealing directly to those people to get in contact with us and provide information that can assist with this investigation.

“We are looking to speak to anyone who saw a large group of youths in the Hythe town centre over the weekend. We think there were about 15 – 20 members in the group.

“We are specifically appealing to a man who we think the group engaged with shortly before the incident. That man is described as white, aged between 50 and 60-years-old with grey hair. We think he was wearing a beige or brown jacket with jeans."

Call 101 with information.

Please call 101 and quote 44150371518 immediately.”

By Tim Birkbeck