7.29pm
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A man remains in a serious condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital following an incident in Bendigo on Thursday night.
11.50am
Lyttleton Terrace business owners are frustrated by the rise of anti-social behaviour in the area.
They say police are regularly called to break up or move on groups of people reported to be drinking, swearing, fighting and yelling in the precinct.
Central Trophies and Gifts owner Glenn Fordham has been in the area since 1992 and noticed a change in recent years.
"It seems to have moved to this area," he said. "There is a group of people in this area that are alcohol-fuelled and possibly drug-fuelled. There's a lot of swearing and anti-social behaviour and there has been a lot of begging too."
Lollies2Go co-owner Lisa Mitchell and her partner, opened their store 10 years ago.
"It was perfect (when we moved in). It was prime location and that's why we picked it," she said.
"In the last 18 months it's got worse. Every day there is an incident. We call police three or four times a week.
"The beggars are the biggest frustration and the fights with people screaming and swearing. There are also people sitting out on the seats drinking all the time."
Mrs Mitchell said it was impacting her store.
"Our figures are down (compared) to two years ago," she said. "We've been told a lot of customers won't come back because of the issues that are happening here."
Vim and Zeal arrived in Lyttleton Terrace last year. Staff member Kylie Roberts said the area was nice but ongoing issues with some people made it unpleasant.
"It's more some of the people that sit around drinking all day. Some of the comments are crude, it's not nice really," she said. "It doesn't seem to matter how many times police come over (the behaviour continues)."
The business owners believe a stronger police presence and more security cameras are needed, but more could also be done to improve the area.
"I've have rung the police on several occasions," Mr Fordham said. "Unfortunately police resources are a bit light on, there's a lot of other things they have to deal with.
"We have seen (police) occasionally in the area. If we see a police presence, it helps the situation immensely."
Ms Mitchell said nobody deserved to feel unsafe.
"Everyone is entitled to do their shopping without being hassled or attacked," she said. "(Reports of the assault) is shocking, nobody should be in that situation.
"We need more security cameras. Maybe we can take it up with landlord to see if there's something we can do."
11.10am
A spokeswoman a the Royal Melbourne Hospital has confirmed the man remains in a critical condition.
In Lyttleton Terrace, police tape has been removed and the walkway from the street through to Coles has reopened.
Police are still on scene with a small section of the footpath still taped off.
9.25am
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said paramedics were called to the scene last night where a man in his 40s had injuries to his upper body.
He was transferred to Bendigo Health before being taken by air ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.
Earlier
Police have set up a crime scene in Lyttleton Terrace.
A police spokesman said emergency services were called to the scene of an assault at 7.45pm on Thursday.
The walkway between Lyttleton Terrace and Coles Supermarket is taped off.
Stores including Bakers Delight, Erindale Farm Butchery, Lollies2Go and Johnny's Fruit and Veggies have limited access.
More to come
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