More than 40 revellers were enjoying the celebrations at a property in Kenilworth Road, Southampton, when a group of around ten people turned up uninvited, sparking a violent fight that spilled out onto the street.
Shocked witnesses looked on as punches and kicks were exchanged outside the semi-detached home in the Polygon area of the city.
The brawl left one of the invited guests, a 22-year-old man, with a serious cut to his head.
When emergency services were called at 4.45am on New Year’s Day, he was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Police investigating the alleged assault cordoned off the area as they made forensic examinations throughout the day.
Neighbours said they heard a lot of noise in the early hours but many were enjoying their own New Year’s parties.
Bloodstains could be seen on the front door of the house where the party was taking place and a number of windows were smashed.
Meanwhile, a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two men were knifed in a vicious street fight on the same night.
Police were called to the junction of Cloughs Road and Parsonage Barn Lane in Ringwood at around 2.15am on New Year’s Day.
They found two Ringwood men aged 49 and 20 with serious knife injuries and a large crowd gathered round.
The pair were taken to hospital for urgent treatment.
The 20-year-old has since been discharged from Royal Bournemouth Hospital but the 49-year-old remains in a serious condition at Southampton General Hospital.
A 35-year-old man was arrested later at 2.40am in Ringwood on suspicion of attempted murder and is still being questioned at Lyndhurst police station.
Police cordoned off a bungalow in Cloughs Road while forensics officers were on the scene.
White powder was scattered across the pavement further up the street to cover pools of blood.
One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, described being woken in the early hours by a “guttural scream”.
She said: “The screaming woke me up. It was not nice. It went on for about five minutes so we knew something was up. There were lots of people outside and we guessed that the emergency services were on their way.”
Acting Detective Inspector Martin Myers, of Lyndhurst CID, said the exact circumstances leading up to the assaults remained unclear.
He added: “One line of inquiry is to trace witnesses who we know left the Cloughs Road area before speaking with officers. Police need to establish if any other people were hurt during the disturbance.”
