A MAJOR police probe was launched - and part of a Basingstoke road cordoned off - as detectives tried to discover how a 63-year-old man came to suffer serious head injuries.

The man - whose name was not being released yesterday - was found unconscious and bleeding on a busy Brighton Hill road late on Wednesday night.

The injury victim, who comes from the Brighton Hill area, was discovered by a passing couple on Hatch Warren Lane at 11pm - but police were yesterday still trying to determine how he came to be hurt.

Inspector Geoff Scrutton, of Basingstoke police, said: "We don't yet know what the incident was. His injuries are consistent with those caused by a road traffic accident, or an assault, or a fall."

The man was taken to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance but was later transferred to the special neurological unit at Southampton General Hospital, where his wife has gone to his bedside.

At the time The Gazette went to press, he was unconscious and said to be in a "serious" condition.

Part of Hatch Warren Lane was closed between Wood Lane roundabout and Sullivan Road yesterday morning while scenes of crime officers searched for clues as to what happened.

Eight detectives are also investigating the incident and officers have carried out door-to-door enquiries in the area.

A police spokeswoman said: "The only thing we know is that he probably took a bus from the town centre some time after 9pm, and got off in the area of Hatch Warren Lane - then he was found by the passing couple.

"We would like to appeal for anyone who saw anything unusual or suspicious at Hatch Warren Lane, any time between 9pm and 11.30pm, to contact the police as a matter of urgency."

Anyone with information which might help the police inquiry should contact Basingstoke CID on 0845 045 45 45.