A MAN repeatedly hit his friend of 20 years in the face with a pool cue, a court heard yesterday.

Violence broke out in the Royal George pub, Shildon, on December 13 last year, a jury at Teesside Crown Court was told.

Darren Taylor told the jury he had gone to the pub for a drink and met John Cant, 33, of Ash Grove, Shildon.

He said they were in the middle of a game of pool and he bent over the table to take a shot, when, for no reason, Mr Cant swung the pool cue into his face, knocking him down.

Mr Cant then struck him several more times around the face and head with the cue, he said.

Mr Taylor said he managed to subdue Mr Cant before police arrived.

Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said police initially thought Mr Taylor was the aggressor, so they used CS spray to subdue him and he was arrested.

He was taken to hospital and found to have several large cuts to his face and head.

Mr Taylor said he did not know why Mr Cant had attacked him with the cue, and said it had occurred without warning.

Mr Cant told police that Mr Taylor had been very angry at the news of his aunt's death and had punched him.

He said he had been frightened by the attack because Mr Taylor was a "big lad" and used the pool cue in self-defence.

Mr Cant denies a charge of wounding Mr Taylor with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The hearing continues.