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

Police said the assaults carried out on lone men -possibly with metal bars -were vicious and senseless.

Two attacks carried out near Middlesbrough town centre have been linked by police.

Both assaults took place in Ayresome Gardens, the community park off the town's busy Linthorpe Road, between midnight and 12.30am yesterday.

A 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."

Detectives are looking at a possible link with an incident earlier in the evening in the vicinity, though more details have not been disclosed.

The victims of the two park attacks were taking shortcuts from nights out when they were beaten about the head.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Kester Haith said: "The assaults are... senseless and were carried out at random. The victims do not know each other but, for whatever reason, they were attacked. One was cutting through the park to go home.

"We think the weapons were metal bars, but we do not know. We have a few lines of inquiry; some names have come forward. We know there was another assault in the vicinity and possibly it's the same people who carried out all three."

It is not known how many attackers there were. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01642-303126.