A MAN lost part of an ear in a fight between members of opposing factions in a long-standing feud, a court heard yesterday.

Jamie Welch bit off part of his opponent's ear while holding him in a headlock, in what was described as a "consensual fight" between the pair in an alleyway off Neasham Road, Darlington.

The incident ended the fight and the man went to hospital with part of his left ear hanging off, Durham Crown Court was told.

Ron Mitchell, prosecuting, said despite plastic surgery it had not been possible to re-attach the ear, and he may suffer permanent disfigurement.

Mr Mitchell said the violence arose out of an ongoing feud in Darlington between members of the settled travellers' community - and locals - known as Townies.

Although originally a traveller, Welch more recently associated with the Townies, causing animosity towards him from the rival faction, the court heard.

The fight took place when the pair exchanged words after bumping into each other in Neasham Road, one morning last August.

They went into the alleyway where they traded blows, and the ear biting incident took place.

When arrested and interviewed, Welch admitted being in the fight, but could not explain how the ear was bitten.

Geoff Hunter said in mitigation there had been previous verbal confrontations between the men, and both were willing combatants.

"He accepts responsibility for the injury, but he's unaware how it happened," he said.

Mr Hunter said Welch planned to leave the town, "as it will be the only way to remove himself from the atmosphere in which this incident happened".

Welch, 27, of Napier Street, Darlington, admitted unlawful wounding at a previous hearing.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Richard Lowden said: "You got involved in a consensual fight, but in the course of it you did something which, even to people who engage in that way of life, is completely unacceptable.

"You used your teeth as a weapon to maim and possibly permanently disfigure that man."