NSW man flown to hospital after assault

A man has been airlifted to hospital after being assaulted while leaving his work at a bakery in south Tamworth in regional NSW.

The 49-year-old was found with serious head injuries about 5am on Saturday and was taken to Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital, a Westpac Helicopter spokesman told AAP.

He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle in a stable condition for further treatment.

A 23-year-old Westdale man was arrested at the scene and taken to Tamworth police station, where he is being questioned.