DENE SAWYER is a 41-year-old doorman who has worked on pubs and clubs across the North-East for most of his life.

Two weeks ago he was headbutted by a drunken soldier who had been asked to leave the Darlington club where he works.

Luckily, Mr Sawyer sustained just a cut on his nose and two black eyes - but it is not the first time he has been the victim of a violent attack.

The Nightsafe campaign will target 18 to 24-year-old men in particular and has been timed to coincide with the launch of new 24-hour drinking laws and in the run up to Christmas.

It will use provocative adverts on posters, beer mats and the back of buses to encourage sensible drinking and reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.

Mr Sawyer said it was mainly teenagers and those in their early twenties who caused problems.

"Ninety per cent of people who are out there are quite well behaved. Out of the ten per cent there are a few who are out to cause bother and the rest is to do with drink.

"I have been lucky not to get badly hurt, the worst I have needed so far has been stitches," he said.

He welcomes the Nightsafe campaign and hopes it will work, but believes clubs and pubs should also cut down on drinks promotions, to take some of the temptation away.

l In The Northern Echo tomorrow, rural publican Andy Power, from Barnard Castle, gives his views on the Nightsafe campaign.