A 47-year-old man was today fighting for life in hospital after being found collapsed outside his Telford home in a pool of blood.

A passer-by found the man with serious head injuries in Attwood Terrace, Dawley, but how he came by them is a mystery.

He was named locally as Wayne Smout, a father-of-three who recently celebrated his silver wedding anniversary.

Mr Smout, who was discovered at 6am yesterday, is today in a critical condition at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary in Stoke-on-Trent.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Bellamy, of Telford CID, said an investigation had been launched to establish exactly how the man was injured and officers had already spoken to several witnesses who saw him on Saturday night and early yesterday morning.

It is known he left the Talbot Inn in High Street, Dawley, on Sunday, at about 1.20am, but landlady Annette Harris said she could throw no light on how he ended up so badly injured on the ground outside his semi-detached house.

She said Mr Smout had been in the pub while his 44-year-old wife was elsewhere with friends on a girls’ night out.

Mrs Harris, 54, who has been friends with the Smouts for about 20 years, said: “I told Wayne to go straight home and I let him out of the pub and locked up.

“When I went out a short while later to walk my dog I found him still at the back of the pub. He normally walks the dog with me but I told him to go home his wife would be there.

“The next thing I knew was when my partner woke me up yesterday morning to say Wayne had been found with serious head injuries,” she added.

“I have no idea what happened. He could have stumbled, fallen and banged his head.

“The trouble is, his mobile phone is still missing and so that might suggest he was attacked.”

Mrs Harris said Mr Smout was on a life-support machine in hospital and had undergone an operation.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen the man as he made his way from the pub or who saw him during Saturday night or early on Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Telford on 08457 444888.

By Simon Hardy