A police detective was today charged with an assault which left a man seriously ill in hospital.

Detective Constable John Beresford, 43, was with two fellow officers socialising off-duty in a popular bar in Newcastle upon Tyne when the incident happened.

Graeme McMillan, 43, from Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, was today still seriously ill in the high dependency unit of Newcastle General Hospital after he was attacked outside Bob Trollope's Bar on Newcastle Quayside on June 8.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: ''Police have now charged John Beresford, who was a serving officer with the Durham Force, with assault.''

The detective, who works in the Derwentside area of Durham Police, was yesterday suspended from his job, a Durham Police spokeswoman said.

Two fellow officers with him at the time continue with their duties.

Beresford will appear before Newcastle magistrates on Friday.