The wife of a caretaker left fighting for his life by a vicious assault was today pleading for help to find his attackers.

Margaret Gray, 53, has kept a vigil by her husband Philip's bedside in intensive care since he was battered about the head.

She was attending a Press conference this afternoon when she was hoping to encourage witnesses to come forward with information about the attack on her husband.

Mr Gray, who lives with his wife and children in Brighton, has not regained consciousness since he was taken into the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

He has been kept heavily sedated because of the severe nature of his injuries, which included a fractured skull.

Mr Gray, 54, was beaten shortly after starting his shift as caretaker at Brighton Square at 7am on Monday of last week.

He is believed to have been set upon in a service road behind the square but managed to stagger to the front of the Druid's Head pub, where he was found in a pool of blood.

Detectives today announced they were looking at the possibility Mr Gray was attacked with his broom which they discovered stained with blood.

Officers are anxious to speak to a man seen in a white baseball cap in Brighton Square at 6.45am. A man in a blue quilted jacket was also seen on CCTV in Black Lion Street at 7.30am.

Call Crimestoppers free on 0800 555111 if you have any information.