A PUBGOER celebrating a birthday with a family night out was bitten on the hand by an attacker described as an “animal”.

Michael Hollywood, aged 35, was the victim of an unprovoked attack when he went to The Wheatsheaf in Westhoughton with his mother, his stepfather, his stepfather’s daughter and her husband.

He has undergone surgery to repair a broken bone and clean out the bite following the assault on Saturday evening at the venue in Market Street.

His mother Helene Goffett said: “My son was jumped upon in the pub as he stood with me, my partner and his daughter and her husband.

“We had been out to celebrate my partner’s birthday and had only just entered the pub and were stood together at the bar.

“My son was approached as he was dancing, as we all were close to the bar.

“The man came over and whispered in his ear: ‘You’re not from here, you’re a Scouser and you’re trying to take over!’

“The man and his two mates jumped on my son, biting him and smashed his hand.

“He was stood outside with a mangled hand and dripping in blood.

“The police were called and my son was taken to hospital, the result of which he is now having surgery today to repair the broken bones in his hand and clean out the bite.

“I am so upset that we went out as a family for a nice occasion and my son was attacked right in front of us because he was not from the area.

“What type of animals do that?”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers responded to a call at 11.50pm on Saturday to a report of an assault inside the pub.

He said Mr Hollywood was approached by an unknown man and following a brief verbal altercation was bitten in the hand as a scuffle developed.

A bystander who tried to intervene suffered an eye injury caused by the same attacker.

Inquiries continue and anyone with information is asked to ring 101 quoting reference 2447 of November 19.