A COMMUNITY leader has spoken out following an alleged incident where a man was hospitalised after being hit over the head with a bottle in Barrow.

A man has since been charged with grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident, said to have taken place on Friday evening on Abbey Road.

Police were called just after 7pm to the incident where they said a man was ‘hit over the head with a bottle’ from which he suffered cuts which left him hospitalised. One resident reported seeing a large emergency service response present between Cheltenham Street and Stafford Street before 8pm on the Friday night.

Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Council, said: “The problem is anyone can go and buy a bottle and I know there are by-laws to stop people drinking in the street but that is difficult to enforce.

“We do not just want violence to be stopped in Barrow, but everywhere else across the country. It is not right that people could not feel safe in the area as incidents like this may make people more wary. This is especially the case when it only happened just after 7pm.”

Cllr Thomson urged anyone who has any information to contact the police.

A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said: “Shortly after 7pm, police attended an address in Abbey Road, after a man was reported to have been hit over the head with a glass bottle inside the flats. The injured man – aged in his 40s – suffered cuts to his head and face and was taken to hospital.”

A 42-year-old Barrow man has been charged with grievous bodily harm.

Police said: “He was granted bail ahead of attending South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

“Anyone who has information on this incident but has yet to come forward is urged to contact police online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit, quoting incident number 217 of October 29. You can also phone on 101.”

“Or you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.” This alleged assault comes just six days after two assaults on Market Street in Dalton which left one man with cuts and another with a fractured skull.