A MAN has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after another man was stabbed several times at a pub in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Forty-year-old Steven Robinson, from Elliott Road, Peterlee, appeared briefly at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court today but did not enter a plea to the attempted murder charge.

The victim, a local man aged 33, remains in the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough in a serious, but stable condition, police said.

Officers were called to the Oaklands pub, in Durham Way, Peterlee, east Durham, shortly before half-past midnight on Sunday.

When officers arrived they found the victim was bleeding heavily having been stabbed several times.

The pub was in the process of closing but a number of staff and customers are believed to have been present at the time.

Officers recovered a knife from the premises.

A member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said to The Northern Echo: “I never saw anything so cannot say anything. It was an isolated incident.”

He declined to discuss the incident further. Regulars arriving at the pub this evening said: “It’s very much a family pub. It has got new owners who are trying to make it nice.”

A man whose relative owns a local shop told The Northern Echo detectives had visited asking to view CCTV footage from the store’s cameras.

He said: “I was told it was two lads were in the pub having a drink. They have had a falling out.”

A shop assistant said: “We were told that it had been a frenzied attack. It’s a local lad who comes in the shop all the time. He’s a nice lad.

“I don’t know anything about the lad who attacked him.”

Detective Chief Inspector Lyn Peart said: "We have had crime scene investigators at the premises and we have spoken to several potential witnesses.

"If anyone else has information which could help our investigation I would ask them to contact us."

Anyone with information should contact Durham Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The case was adjourned to Durham Crown Court on Monday, August 10 and Mr Robinson was remanded in custody until then.