POLICE have appealed for help in solving the mystery of how a man ended up seriously ill in hospital after he arrived home caked in blood.

They are trying to establish if 27-year-old Mark Stirman had been the victim of an assault or whether there is a more innocent explanation for how he came to have a blood clot on the brain.

Mr Stirman, who lives with his parents in Elliott Road, in Peterlee, County Durham, had been to a party at a friend's house on Friday night a short distance away in Harvey Close.

He left the party just before midnight saying he was planning to go to the house of another friend, however he didn't say exactly where this friend lived.

It's thought at some point he passed the garage block in Galloway Road, but his next known location was back at the family home in Elliott Road a short time later.

His brother, Gary met him at the house and noticed he was caked in blood, but he could not give a clear account of what had happened.

His other brother, Paul took him to hospital in Hartlepool where he was checked over and initially there was no serious concern for his welfare. But Stirman, who has suffered from epilepsy since he was aged six then began to have fits and he was quickly transferred to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Doctors there established he had a blood clot on his brain and had to operate at the weekend. He remains in hospital where his condition was described this morning as 'critical but stable.'

Detectives hope to speak to him later this week if he is well enough, and meanwhile are appealing for anyone who might have seen him on Friday night to contact them.

Det Sgt Cliff Down said: "At this stage we don't know if he has been the victim of an assault or whether he has simply hurt himself falling over.

"Mark is a familiar and well-liked person and many people in the area know him. We are hoping someone will have seen him at some point between when he left the party and his arrival home, so we can solve what at the moment remains a puzzle."

Det Sgt Down added that when Mark had returned home on the Friday night he had mentioned to his brother he thought two people had come to his aid after he was injured, possibly in the Galloway Rd area. Police are appealing for those potential witnesses to come forward, as well as the person whose house he was planning to visit after he left the party in Harvey Close.

Mark Stirman is around 5ft 6in tall, of average build and with blond hair cut in a short back and sides. On the night of the party he was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, blue jeans and white Nike trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Peterlee CID on 0345 6060 365 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.