The police are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was left in a critical condition after he was attacked with a hammer at a Liverpool beauty spot.
The 17-year-old was hit on the head in Liverpool's Croxteth Park at around 8pm on Sunday, and is now in hospital with severe injuries.
Officers are viewing CCTV images of the area and asking for local people to come forward with any information - particular the family who raised the alarm about the attack.
The police said the emergency services were called to a nearby street after reports of 'a disturbance' in a woodland area.
Detective Inspector Mark Kameen told the Liverpool Echo that it was a 'particularly vicious attack'
"We are working hard to establish the full circumstances of the incident, but would appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward," he said. "We know this area is normally busy, even at this time of the evening, with dog walkers and families, and I'd ask anyone who saw this incident or who has any information about it to come forward."
"We're particularly keen to trace the family who knocked on the address on Haddon Walk to ask for an ambulance to be called.
"They had left the area by the time emergency services arrived and I'd ask them to contact police as their information could be vital to our investigation."
Local resident Carol McGrady told the Echo that nine police cars and a policeman staked out the area all night.
"My husband and I didn't hear a thing. When the police were here, I got such a fright because you always think it could be your own," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact St Anne Street CID on 0151 777 4064 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.