A MAN is fighting for his life after suffering serious head injuries in a town centre incident.

And the man's mother today praised villagers who have rallied around to support the distraught family - including one little girl who left a teddy bear on the doorstep of their Downham home.

Mark Hall, 24, of Main Street, is in a critical condition in Royal Preston Hospital following an incident in Clitheroe on Friday night.

A man has been charged with wounding and grievous bodily harm and was due to appear before magistrates in Hyndburn today.

Mr Hall, a well-known local cricketer, is the son of Keith Hall, quarry manager at Castle Cement in Clitheroe.

He works as a toolmaker at Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick and plays for Ribblesdale Wanderers cricket team in Clitheroe.

He is also a keen bell-ringer at the historic St Leonard's Church in Downham and attended the village's primary school and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. His parents and girlfriend Angeline Metcalfe have been by his bedside since the incident which has left everyone stunned.

Tearful mum Mary said her son was a "quiet peace-loving lad" who would "do anything to help others."

"Mark is due to see a consultant today. It's just a waiting game. We are shocked and nonplussed by the whole thing," she said.

And to add to the family's agony phone lines in Downham have been down over the weekend.

"We haven't been able to receive calls all weekend. Imagine being at hospital with your son on a life support machine and trying to ring his anxious sister at home. It has been horrible," Mrs Hall said.

But she has praised villagers who had rallied around with support, particularly one little girl called Lucy who left her teddy bear on the doorstep of the family's home with the message, "Get well soon, Mark."

"I just want to thank everyone who helped Mark following the incident and I can't stress how kind the police, hospital staff and neighbours have been. Everyone has been marvellous," she said.

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