A MAN suffered serious head injuries last night in a major disturbance involving around 40 Sikh men in Southampton's inner city area.

Police said the incident in the Nicholstown area of St Mary's was not being treated as racially- motivated.

The 25-year-old was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with potentially life-threatening wounds after receiving head injuries in the fracas just after 5pm.

Doctors said he had stabilised last night, but he remained in a serious condition this morning.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "Early reports suggested there appeared to have been some disorder among local youths, but at this stage police have yet to establish a motive for the attack."

It is understood the incident involved about 40 members of the close-knit local Sikh community but investigations were continuing today. Two local men were arrested in connection with the alleged assault last night, and were today in custody at Southampton Central police station where they were helping detectives with inquiries.

Officers were called to the scene, at the junction of Brintons Road and Nicholls Road, around 5.15pm yesterday.

An incident room headed by Detective Inspector Nigel Niven has been set up at the Hulse Road divisional police headquarters in Southampton. Today, house-to-house inquiries were continuing in Nicholstown, while part of the area remained cordoned off.

Detectives appealed for anyone with information to call the Southampton incident room on 0845 045 4545, or the Crimestop-pers line on 0800 555111.