A MAN had part of his ears chewed off in an attack that police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

The assault by two armed men happened in Newton Aycliffe, on Friday night and police released the details last night.

A Durham Police spokesman said the 30-year-old victim and a friend were watching television at a house in Ida Place, off Burn Lane, when the attackers arrived.

Having been let in, the men, one armed with a broken bottle, the other with a carving knife, launched what police described as a "sustained and savage attack on an innocent man".

The victim had half of one ear and a third of his other ear chewed off and sustained a broken nose, a possible fractured cheekbone and other facial injuries.

He was kept in Darlington Memorial Hospital on Friday night and transferred on Saturday to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, for plastic surgery. He has since been released.

The spokesman said that, as the assault began, the victim's friend fled the house and raised the alarm. The attackers left when they heard the sirens from police cars.

He said: "The victim is of the belief that he would not be alive today if it were not for the sound of the police sirens."

The spokesman said inquiries suggested that the attackers had mistaken their victim for someone else.

He said police officers had a good idea who the attackers were - both were in their late twenties or early thirties - but no arrests had yet been made.

Officers recovered the bottle, but the carving knife is still missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Newton Aycliffe CID on (01325) 314401.