DETECTIVES are appealing for information after a man had his thumb partially bitten off during a fight in a pub.

Trouble broke out at the Fleming Hotel, in Shotton Colliery, east Durham at 11.10pm last Friday during a karaoke competition.

A 54-year-old Peterlee man intervened in an effort to stop the fighting but was knocked to the ground.

A police spokesman said the man was then assaulted and part of his thumb bitten off.

He was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital and yesterday underwent plastic surgery on his injured hand.

Two other people, one male and one female, were also treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Police said most of the trouble involved a group of three male and two female drinkers, who left the pub immediately after the situation calmed down.

The group caused minor damage to fixtures and fittings inside the pub as they left.

Police are still anxious to hear from any witnesses.

Detective Constable Brian Roberts said: "This was a very nasty attack, which resulted in the victim being in hospital for several days."