Police are trying to trace the movements of a student who arrived home in Withington with a serious head injury and is now in intensive care in hospital.

The 20-year-old man arrive home last night telling housemates he had been assaulted in a takeaway after getting the bus home from university.

He then collapsed and was rushed to hospital where he is currently critically ill.

Police believe the Manchester University student caught the 142 Magic Bus service from Manchester city centre to Withington around 9.50pm last night and got off near the library on Wilmslow Road.

He is then believed to have been assaulted at a takeaway before going home, where he told housemates he had been attacked, but was unable to provide further information about what had happened.

He is now unconscious in hospital and police are keen to speak to anyone who saw the man on the bus, in Withington village or being assaulted.

He is white, of slim build, 6ft 2ins, with brown hair.

On the night of the incident he was wearing a grey jacket with a sheepskin interior, a light blue denim shirt and dark trousers.

Detective Inspector David Turner said: "“We need to ascertain what happened to this young man between him leaving Manchester University at around 9.50pm and arriving home in the Withington area at around 11.30pm.



“We have launched an investigation and have a team of detectives who are working to establish the facts of how he came to receive his injuries.



“We are keen to speak to anyone who was on the 142 magic bus at around 9.50pm last night or was in the vicinity of Withington library who may have seen anything that could help police with their enquiries. Your information could be vital to our investigation.



"We are asking people not to speculate about what has happened here but to allow the police investigation to establish this. Attacks such as this are extremely rare and we are working to identify the individual/s responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4423 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers , anonymously, on 0800 555 111