Pub doorman Richard Powell gave police a vital clue when he was brutally attacked - he sprayed his assailant with bright green paint.

The paint, known as criminal identifier spray, takes a week to wear off and detectives hope witnesses may have spotted the paint-spattered assailant.

Mr Powell, 28, needed hospital treatment after he was headbutted and kicked while working at the Black Lion pub in Black Lion Street, Brighton.

Mr Powell was approached by a group of five men inside the pub who began shouting abuse at him.

He said: "They were obviously out for a fight and thought they could have some fun with me as I was on my own.

"One of them leaned forward and headbutted me in the right eye and held me in a headlock. He put the boot in and carried on kicking me while I lay on the floor.

"I couldn't see out of my right eye because of the blood so I lay curled up in a ball. As he had me in a headlock I sprayed him with this criminal identifier spray from my pocket."

Mr Powell was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital for a gash above the eye. He has also suffered from sharp pain in his back since the beating.

His attacker was of large build, white, about 6ft 2in tall and aged about 35 with shaved fair hair.

A police spokeswoman said: "This green dye can last up to seven days and we are keen to speak to anyone who was in the pub or has seen anyone covered with green during the past week.

"The door staff are there to make sure people feel safe and have a difficult job to do. This was a nasty assault and happened in a pub full of people."

The attack happened on Friday, December 22. Anyone with information should call PC Tim Temple on 0845 6070999.