A CWMBRAN man is critically ill in hospital after being repeatedly punched and kicked in a brutal assault.

The 33-year-old, who police have not yet named, was found lying in the road unconscious and covered in blood, in Ty Pwca Road, Pontnewydd, at around 11pm on Saturday.

Witnesses who found him thought he had been run over by a car because his injuries were so severe, police said.

The man was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, with severe head injuries. Police say the injuries were consistent with repeated punching and kicking.

Three people were arrested at the scene. Two were later released without charge and the third, a 22-year-old Cwmbran man, is still being questioned. Detective Insp-ector Mike Jones, of Cwmbran CID, said: "We believe an assault, or series of assaults took place following a simple argument in a house that got out of control.

"The man took a serious beating in what was a severe and sustained attack. His injuries were consistent with being punched and kicked to the head repeatedly. He was found in the street although we believe the attack took place in the house."

Police have spoken to a number of witnesses at the scene but are keen to trace two young men seen nearby who may have witnessed the attack. They also want to trace a person who made two calls to the ambulance service from a public phone box in Five Locks Road.

DI Jones added: "We want to trace any witnesses who have not yet come forward."