POLICE in Gravesend have made an urgent appeal for witnesses to an assault which has left a young man in intensive care.

The incident took place Friday between 10.30pm and 11.30pm in Empress Road, Gravesend.

North Kent Police has said it is treating the assault as racially motivated.

The 18-year-old man in intensive care has serious head injuries and his condition is described as stable.

A 16-year-old boy was also left with minor injuries during the assault. Both youths are from Afghanistan but live locally.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed the assault, or seen a group of between seven and ten people including one female, to come forward.

A thorough forensic examination of Empress Road took place on Saturday and police closed the road for a number of hours.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Kent Police on 01474 565167 and all calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively witnesses can telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.