Man badly hurt in 'plunge from Walsall bedsit window'

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was discovered with a fractured skull, back and wrist at about 5.40am today outside Happy Times hostel in Stafford Street, Walsall.

A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and remained in custody today.

A police cordon was in place while some debris was strewn on the pavement beneath a window.

A man who lives at the block, who asked not to be named, said he had been told a man had fallen from a first-floor window and added: "I got woken up by flashing lights at around 5.30am. I heard a man has been arrested."

Residents today spoke of their shock at hearing of the alleged attack and seeing emergency services swoop on the scene in the early hours.

Nazia Akhtar, aged 32, of nearby Bloxwich Road, said: "I saw the police there this morning and that was the first I knew about it. I just hope the person is OK."

Another resident in Bloxwich Road said: "It was a bit of a shock to see the police and the cordon in place. I don't know exactly what had happened but it sounds serious if someone has been hurt."

Police spokeswoman Gina Lycett confirmed investigating officers were following a line of inquiry that the man had been injured in a fall from a window.

But she would not reveal any more details about the exact circumstances.

She said: "Police were called to Stafford Street in Walsall at around 5.40am this morning after a man was found in the street with serious injuries.

"The victim, believed to be a man in his 40s, has been taken to hospital with suspected fractures to his skull, back and wrist.

"A 43-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody awaiting questioning. Police are keen to hear from anyone in Stafford Street at the time, particularly around Happy Times, who may have witnessed the incident. They should call police on the 101 number."