Police are investigating separate incidents in which two men were seriously injured in attacks.

One man is seriously in hospital after he was assaulted in Belfast city centre on Saturday night.

The victim was found lying unconscious on the ground in Bain's Place, near Amelia Street, at approximately 2130 BST on Saturday night.

He had suffered severe injuries to his head and body.

The police say a motive for the attack is not clear, but they will be keeping an open mind..

In the second incident, a 23-year-old man had both his legs fractured in what police say was a paramilitary style attack on Saturday night.

Four masked men entered a house at Kennedy Square in Downpatrick shortly after 2100 BST and beat their victim with hammers.

The police have appealed for anyone with information about either of the two incidents to contact them.