A doorman was stabbed in the back then hit with a brick in a row outside a top nightclub.

Tim Harding was badly hurt in the incident outside the Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive, Brighton.

He suffered a 4in-deep wound, which narrowly missed his kidneys, and was left with bad head injuries after his attacker threw the brick at his head.

The 35-year-old was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital after the attack at about midnight on Sunday.

Trouble flared when a group of four or five men, believed to be from London, were refused entry to a Garage Nation event.

Police said the group began hurling stones at door staff before the stabbing. It happened in front of dozens of people queuing outside the popular venue, which has a reputation for being trouble-free.

Russell Haynes, managing director of the Concorde 2, said he believed the attackers were from a London gang. He said the venue was closed immediately after the attack and the 200 revellers were asked to leave.

Mr Haynes described the attack as cowardly and a "rogue incident"

for the club. "I spoke to Tim today and he is out of hospital. He seems fine but this was a one-off cowardly attack," Mr Haynes said. "They stabbed him in the back and then as he was crouching down they threw stuff at him.

"Tim has been working with us for five years. He's an experienced and well respected doorman.

"We believe it was a rogue case with two or three people from London intent on causing trouble. The trouble happened outside the club and we have a reputation for having a tight door and protecting visitors.

"This sort of thing does not happen at the Concorde.

"We have a reputation for great bands and we're shocked at this."

Mr Haynes said he believed there had been trouble at a "warm-up" party at another venue earlier in the night. Last night, police were studying CCTV footage from the club and issued an urgent appeal for witnesses.

Detective Sergeant Gary Tattersall said: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack and it was more by luck than judgment that the victim wasn't more seriously hurt. There was a very heavy queue at the time of the incident so I would urge those people to come forward.

"The club was closed soon after the incident and there was no more trouble. This was a frightening attack committed by someone with a heavy propensity to violence."

All the men are described as white, in their 20s, and wearing jeans and T-shirts.

They ran off in the direction of the Palace Pier. Anyone with information should call police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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