DETECTIVES are waiting to speak to an attack victim who had to have his chin rebuilt after a gruesome biting incident in Southampton.

The 38-year-old man discharged himself after an emergency operation at Southampton General Hospital at the weekend.

Police were hoping to interview the man today to build up a clearer picture of what happened in the attack in Woolston on Saturday afternoon.

As revealed in yesterday's Final edition of the Echo, the victim was rushed to hospital after having a large part of his chin bitten off during a racially-motivated assault involving six men. A police officer picked up the missing piece of flesh from a pavement and transported it to the hospital, after wrapping it in ice provided by a nearby pub.

Doctors faced a race against time to stitch the man's chin back together. It is not yet clear if the emergency surgery has proved successful.

Today, Det Con Keith Bailey, of Bitterne CID, renewed an appeal for witnesses to the sickening assault, which began in Radstock Road and ended in nearby Bridge Road. Police said the incident started off as a dispute over a car but quickly escalated to violence.

It is being treated as racially motivated because of offensive remarks shouted as the group, believed to involve five white men and one Asian, moved along the street.

One other man also suffered head and facial injuries in the fracas.

Anyone with information about the assault, which happened around 5.15pm on Saturday, is urged to contact Bitterne CID on 0845 045 4545 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.