SURGEONS have saved the thumb of an off-duty doorman who was brutally attacked with a machete at a Whitefield pub.

But detectives hunting the 31-year-old man's four attackers, say their inquiries have come up against a "brick wall."

Meanwhile the injured man, who has asked for his identity not to be disclosed, is recovering in Withington Hospital, Manchester.

Surgeons reattached his thumb after it was hacked off during the machete attack at the Masons Arms in Bury New Road on Sunday night.

The victim had earlier helped a colleague eject two men who were accused of rolling cannabis cigarettes in the pub.

Detective Sergeant Dave Maguire said: "He had been off-duty and socialising with friends before assisting his colleague.

"The two men ejected had made threats and said they would return to seek their revenge."

At 11pm the same men - along with two others - came back and attacked their victim in the doorway. As well as his thumb injury, the man also suffered a head wound which needed stitches.

His severed thumb was packed in ice and sewn back at hospital.

The doorman, who lives in Whitefield, works for a Preston-based security company. It is believed he also works at several other pubs in the Bury area.

Detective Constable Beverley Scholes said inquiries had hit a "brick wall". She has interviewed the injured man in hospital.

Meanwhile, detectives have released descriptions of the two men initially ejected from the pub.

One is said to be half-caste or Asian, aged 24, 5ft 9ins tall, skinny and wearing a camouflage jacket.

The second man was aged 24, 5ft 7ins, slim and wearing oblong-shaped glasses on his head, a dark blue or green Henri Lloyd anorak and Nike "Airmax" trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Det Con Scholes at Whitefield CID on 856 8248 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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