Man charged over assault at NSW hotel

A man accused of punching another man to the ground and fracturing his skull after an argument at a hotel in NSW's central west has been charged.

Police say two men had been drinking separately at a hotel in Parkes when they began arguing at about 10.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

A 23-year-old man was punched in the stomach and head, causing him to fall over and hit his head on the ground.

He was flown to Sydney's Westmead Hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition with a fractured skull.

Police said that at about 10.20am (AEDT) on Monday a 19-year-old attended Parkes Police Station where he was charged with reckless grievous bodily harm, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was given conditional bail and will appear in Parkes Local Court on February 17.