AN off-duty doorman who stepped in to break up a brawl in a city centre bar was mutilated - by a woman who bit off his ear.

Mark Barrett was enjoying a night out with girlfriend, Beverley Little, in Newcastle when the fight broke out beside him.

Trying to break it up, the father-of-two pulled apart two women before grabbing one of their boyfriends.

But as he grappled with them, one of the women, in her forties, attacked him from behind and sank her teeth in his ear.

Doctors were unable to stitch the ear back together and Mr Barrett, 29, will have to live with the disfigurement for the rest of his life.

He said: "I can't believe it. I wish I'd never tried to intervene. In all the time I've been a doorman I've seen a lot of fights, but then something like this happens to me when I'm not working and just having a night out with my girlfriend."

The attack happened in the Bigg Market at about 10.20pm on Sunday, April 17. Mr Barrett, of West Denton, Newcastle, was taken to the city's General Hospital.

He was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where he spent two days before being released.

Mr Barrett said: "I'm devastated. My girlfriend is devastated and my family are devastated.

"I can't believe I might look like this for the rest of my life."

Mr Barrett has worked as a bouncer for ten years, having taken up the profession after leaving school. He will be unable to return to work until the week after next while he waits for his injuries to heal sufficiently.

A man and woman were arrested and have been bailed, pending further inquiries by police.