A MAN suffered a 'gash' to his head during an attack outside a Chinese restaurant in Oxford.

Two men assaulted another three men in the early hours of this morning, near the entrance of The One Restaurant and Bar in Botley Road.

A guarded police cordon was in place all morning while officers investigated the attack, which happened at about 4.10am today.

The tape has now been lifted, and the Asian restaurant is open for business as usual. 

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Three men were assaulted by two others, who were with a woman, following a conversation between the groups.

"One man received a gash to his head but the injury is not believed to be life threatening. He remains in hospital.

"Another man received lesser injuries but also attended hospital and the third man did not require medical attention.

"Officers continue to investigate the circumstances of this incident."

South Central Ambulance Service said an ambulance crew stopped at the scene shortly before 6am this morning, to 'assist a patient who had been assaulted and sustained a head injury'.

It is not clear if the injured person picked up by SCAS was involved in the earlier attack. 

Spokesman David Gallagher said: "At 5.58am one of our ambulances crews radioed in to the control room to say that they had stopped on Botley Road to assist a patient who had been assaulted and sustained a head injury.

"The crew then took him/her to the John Radcliffe Hospital."

One man who passed the cordon this morning said he and several of his work colleagues saw blood on the pavement. 

Some of the cones had been used to hold up plastic wrapping, as if to shield part of the ground from the rain. 

Both the main entrance of The One had been taped off and a door at the back of the premises, understood to be the staff entrance.

Oxford Mail:

Earlier this year the restaurant's trade was hit when hygiene inspectors found rat droppings and dirty equipment on the premises, after which the management apologised and pledged to improve.

READ AGAIN: One Bar manager apologises for hygiene woes and vows to win customers back

The scene this morning prompted curious stares from drivers and pedestrians on the busy road during rush hour.

Oxford Mail:

Staff at two neighbouring hotels, speaking at about 7.30am this morning, said they had not heard any further details about the incident.

One said he had brought the police officer a cup of tea and asked what had happened, but the officer was unable to give information. 

The building was previously The White House pub and The One restaurant opened there in 2011, following a major revamp. 

Oxford Mail: