POLICE are looking for a thug who may have deafened a 22-year-old man for life.

He attacked his victim with a bottle, hitting him across the head and fracturing his skull, causing damage to his right ear.

The victim received medical treatment at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, but it is not known whether the deafness in his right ear will be permanent.

The 22-year-old unnamed victim was attacked outside Sharkey's nightclub on the Esplanade, Redcar, east Cleveland, at 2am, last Sunday.

Detective Constable Sonia Moss, of Redcar CID, said: "This is a popular local nightspot and lots of people would have been leaving at the time of the attack. I am sure that someone would have witnessed this incident and would urge them to get in touch with me."

Anyone with information can contact Det Con Moss on (01642) 302626 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.