North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses to two violent assaults in the city centre.

Both assaults took place on Blake Street outside McDonalds in the early hours, one on Tuesday (1st April) and the other Thursday, 27th March.

North Yorkshire Police said in relation to Thursday’s incident: “We’re particularly appealing for anyone to come forward who witnessed the assault or was in the area at the time.”

Police are looking for a man described as white, in his forties, large build and bald who was involved in the serious assault on Thursday 27th March around 1:30am to 1:50am on Blake Street at McDonald’s.

North Yorkshire Police said: “After a short verbal altercation between two men, one of the men has punched the other man, knocking him to the ground and continuing to punch him.”

The victim of the assault was taken to hospital and received treatment for a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.

A second serious assault was reported on Tuesday (1st April)

In relation to the assault on Tuesday a police spokesperson said: “Two males, both aged 20, have been arrested on suspicion of serious assault, public order, and assaulting a police officer.”

They added: “We believe several others, both inside and outside the restaurant, may have been assaulted during the incident.”

Police are appealing for victims and witnesses of the violent incident on Tuesday 1st April to contact them.

These incidents add to concerns over the increase in crime in York, as York is known for being a safe place to live and visit.

North Yorkshire Police figures show around two thirds of the 1,005 violent crimes recorded in York city centre in the year up to March 2024 were at night.

Violent crimes accounted for almost one in five of all 5,629 alcohol-related, antisocial behaviour and public safety and welfare offences and incidents in the city centre.

Blake Street’s most common incident was nuisance antisocial behaviour according to the findings from North Yorkshire Police.