POLICE are hunting a thug after a party-goer's nose was bitten off in a horrendous attack.

The 30-year-old victim was taken to hospital covered in blood, cradling part of his nose in his hands, before surgeons were able to reattach it.

He has been left permanently scarred by the attack. It happened at a house party in Clayton-le-Moors in the early hours of New Year's Day but police have only just released details.

Most of the fleshy part of his nose was bitten off and left hanging down in front of his mouth, connected to his face only by the septum.

Sergeant Allan Nicol, of Great Harwood police, has appealed for witnesses to come forward to catch the man responsible for the assault.

He said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack which resulted in horrendous injuries to the man's face, whereby the lower portion of his nose was bitten off."

The victim, a man from Swinton, Greater Manchester, was in the area celebrating the new year with a party at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors.

Sgt Nicol said the man, whose girlfriend lives in the area, became separated from his group and went to the house party at around 3am with a man and a woman he met at the hotel.

He said that it was around 6am when he was attacked.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.