Student found seriously injured

The student was found unconscious at the bottom of steps

A university student is critically ill in hospital after being found injured in Durham city centre.

Peter Wake, a history student from Surrey, has not regained consciousness since being discovered at the foot of concrete steps on Wednesday morning.

He was seen on CCTV after leaving the Love Shack bar the previous night, but his later movements are unknown.

The 20-year-old was found by a passer-by in a side street off Grape Lane, near the Elm Tree Pub.

Durham Police have appealed for anyone who might have seen him between midnight and 0730 GMT on Wednesday to contact them.

A force spokesman said there was no reason to believe a crime had been committed, but that investigating officers were keeping an open mind.

Mr Wake's parents have travelled up from Surrey and are at his bedside in Newcastle General Hospital.