POLICE are investigating a pub brawl in Winchester that has left one man horrifically injured.

After the fight in Green's Wine Bar on Friday night a victim needed 27 stitches to his face and another was knocked unconscious.

The fighting broke out in the packed pub at about 10.50pm. Police said it was not clear how it actually started, but one witness said it exploded after a man had an argument with a woman.

The witness said: "The fight lasted about two minutes just as everyone was getting kicked out. "One guy was knocked out and the other was smashed in the face with a broken bottle. It was one big brawl. There was glass and blood everywhere.

"The barmen were ripping everyone apart and throwing them out of the pub."

The 22-year-old man who was injured was taken by ambulance to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

Doctors spent two and half hours stitching the cuts that were four centimetres long.

The man, who did not want to be named, said the glass just missed his jugular vein.

He added: ''I will be scarred for life."

The 22-year-old man who was knocked out also needed hospital treatment.

Police confirmed that four men aged between 28 and 35 from Chandler's Ford, Otterbourne and Bitterne were on police bail in connection with the incident. They are to return to Winchester police station on December 14.

Owner of Green's Peter Neave said: "I was not there but I was told they were clearing the bar when a guy took exception to something and it kicked off.

"My staff dealt with it properly and we held them inside before the police arrested them."

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