Four teenagers have been arrested in Australia over an attack which left a Scot fighting for his life.

Mark Willis, 25, was assaulted near a railway station in Sydney in the early hours of Wednesday morning by a group of boys after an argument.

New South Wales Police say Mr Willis, who is understood to be from Glasgow, and his Scottish girlfriend Jane McLean were approached by four teenagers as they got off a bus at Rockdale Railway Station in the early hours of the morning.

Police have charged four boys, aged between 13 and 15, with offences ranging from affray to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

The boys were refused bail and are due to appear before Parramatta Children's Court.

Mr Willis hit his head on the footpath as he fell. Police say he was taken to St George Hospital and has undergone emergency neurosurgery. He remains in a serious condition.

The Sydney Morning Herald quotes Detective Superintendent Helen Begg from St George police, who said "one punch" caused the injuries to Mr Willis.

Detective Superintendent Begg said Mr Willis and his girlfriend had been out in the city before catching a night bus to Rockdale.
The couple, the newspaper adds, are in Australia on a 12-month working visa and were due to start a trip around the country.

Mr Willis is thought to have attended Cleveden Community School in Glasgow before graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University.

It has been reported that Mr Willis' family in Scotland have been notified of the incident and are preparing to travel to Australia.