A MANHUNT has been launched to find a gang responsible for carrying out random beatings in a Teesside park.

Police say the assaults carried out on lone males - possibly with metal bars - were both vicious and senseless.

Two attacks carried behind Middlesbrough town centre have been firmly linked by Cleveland Police.

Both assaults took place in Ayresome Gardens, the community park off the town's busy Linthorpe Road in less than half hour, between 12 midnight and 12.30am, today.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "On both occasions a male victim was viciously attacked by a group of unknown persons, carrying weapons. Both men suffered head injuries, requiring hospital treatment."

Last night it emerged detectives were looking at a possible link with a third incident, earlier in the evening in the same "vicinity", though details of that assault have not been disclosed.

The victims of the two linked park attacks were taking short cuts from nights out when they were beaten over the head and to the ground.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Kester Haith said: "The assaults are from a motive point of view, senseless, and were carried out at random. The victims don't know each other, but for whatever reason, they were attacked. One was cutting through the park to go home. It is just senseless."

He added: "We think the weapons were metal bars, but we don't know.

"We have a few lines of inquiry, some names have come forward. We think the two are possibly linked to another earlier on. We know there was another assault in the vicinity and possibly it's the same people who carried out all three."

Police are appealing to the public to come forward, to help them catch those responsible.

Witnesses are urged to ring Middlesbrough CID on 01642-303126.