Updated: Man is held by police. 'Serious assault' probed in Grays town centre

AN area of Grays town centre was cordoned off this morning awaiting further forensic investigation after a man was arrested following an an assault late last night ( Tuesday, 22 September).

It happened overnight outside the former magistrates' court building at the end of Grays High Street, ironically the subject of an upbeat Thurrock Council release yesterday (Tuesday, 21 September) about how its Safer Streets programme had improved the area.

This morning police issued the following statement: "We were quick to arrest a man following an assault in Grays.

Our officers were called to Brooke Road shortly after 11.30pm yesterday, Tuesday 21 September, to reports a man had been assaulted.

The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered injuries to his head. Within 30 minutes, we had arrested a 21-year-old man from Southend on suspicion of GBH.

"He remains in custody at this time.

"If you have any information you can submit a report online via this link where you can use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Quote incident 1575 of 21 September.

"You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."