A 25-YEAR-OLD man is to undergo surgery following a vicious and unprovoked weekend attack.

Police in Peterlee are appealing for information following the assault on the man, outside a pub in Shotton Colliery, on Saturday night.

The victim, who comes from the Shotton area, had been drinking in Easington on Saturday afternoon.

Then, at about 6.30pm, he went to the Gold Mine pub, in Shotton Colliery's Cowley Street.

He had a conversation with a number of people inside, and while having a further drink, was grabbed from behind and attacked.

The victim was then dragged outside and subjected to a beating in which, inaddition to other injuries, he suffered two deep lacerations to his face.

The man was initially treated at the University Hospital of Hartlepool and is now in the James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Detective Constable Barry Johnson, of Peterlee CID, said: "This man sustained two very nasty cuts to his face during a vicious, totally unprovoked attack. He lost quite a lot of blood as a result, and is due to undergo surgery.''

Det Con Johnson appealed for help. "We believe the assault may have taken place at about 8.30pm, but would appeal to anyone with information about what happened to come forward and help with our inquiries," he said.

"At this stage, it is unclear how many people were involved and we need to clarify the situation.''

Peterlee CID can be contacted on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.