TWO men appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a man found in a pub toilet with severe burns.

Robert Iley, 52, of Trent Crescent and Dominic Younger, 29, of Medway, both in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, were granted conditional bail by Peterlee magistrates when their case was adjourned for seven days.

Their alleged victim, Barry McCann, 36, who is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit of Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, was found in the gents toilet of the Warriors Arms pub, in Great Lumley, on Sunday night, suffering from severe burns and possible internal injuries.

Mr McCann, of Lynn Street, Chester-le-Street, whose condition was described last night as critical, had been attending a family christening at the pub.

The alarm was raised at about 9.30pm when youngsters attending the christening told landlord Gordon Ainsley that there was smoke coming from one of the gents cubicles.

When Mr Ainsley investigated he found Mr McCann lying on the floor with severe burns.

Mr McCann's heavily pregnant girlfriend Tracy Carr, whose baby is due in just five weeks, is maintaining a bed-side vigil at the RVI.

Police are continuing their appeal for witnesses to the incident and ask anyone with any information to contact officers on 0191-388 4311.