A BLOODIED man was found battered in a Merseyside street after attempts were apparently made to set him on fire.

Police discovered the 20-year-old lying on the ground near South Road, Waterloo, just after 1.30am last Monday.

The victim, who was still talking, appeared to be doused in paraffin and had suffered injuries to his face.

Further inquiries led officers to a disturbing scene inside a nearby bar, including possible evidence of torture.

Nobody was inside Bar South, but when officers forced their way in, they were greeted by a blood-splattered ground floor and kitchen.

The scene included:

Pools of blood on the floor, splattered over the walls and soaked into towels;

A blood-stained knife, which showed signs of being used in a recent stabbing;

A bottle of Parazone bleach and a cooker lighter.

It appeared as if the beaten man was the target for the sinister attack.

Chief Superintendent Ian Pilling said: “We moved quickly to shut down the premises and the licence has been temporarily suspended.” Three people, two men and a woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed pending further inquiries.

Merseyside police have highlighted “serious concerns” about alleged tampering of CCTV footage.

They suspect tapes were deliberately interfered with to prevent those responsible for the attack being caught.