TWO men have undergone surgery after being attacked by a knifeman outside a nightclub early yesterday.

Police said the pair, who suffered severe wounds, were lucky that the cuts were not deeper.

The attack happened outside Club Etc, in Bede Way, Peterlee, County Durham, at about 12.40am, after a row between the knifeman and one of his victims.

Police said the row seemed to have to resolved itself, and the attacker walked away, while the victim went to get in a taxi with his girlfriend.

But he returned, and gave the 28-year-old several cuts to the throat, neck, chest and back.

A 25-year-old man who saw what was happening tried to intervene and was also cut several times.

Both men, from Peterlee, lost a considerable amount of blood and were taken to Hartlepool's University Hospital.

Both have been operated on and the 28-year-old, who was in the high dependency unit, has been transferred to an ordinary ward.

Their injuries are not life-threatening and their condition is stable.

Detective Inspector Sue Knaggs said that if the cuts had been deeper, officers could have been conducting a murder inquiry.

She said: "This was an extremely serious incident, but it could have been much worse as one victim in particular lost an awful lot of blood.

"We will be studying video footage from the town centre and the cameras of the club in an effort to identify the person for this horrendous attack."

Witnesses are asked to call Peterlee police on 0191-586 2621 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.