A woman had her ear bitten off in a savage street attack.

The victim was attacked in the middle of Newhaven town centre by another woman.

Police raced to the scene and found a pool of blood and part of the woman’s ear outside a bookmakers.

After the woman, aged in her 40s and local to Newhaven, was attacked she staggered to a nearby pub.

Shocked drinkers watched her walk in and tell staff what had happened.

Yesterday (May 9) the landlord of The Ship in High Street, Newhaven, said: “She was in a great deal of pain and was very, very shocked.

“I don’t what the motive was for the attack.

“The area was completely cordoned off.”

The landlord, named only as Glen, called the emergency services and paramedics arrived.

Police were already en route because witnesses to the savaging outside Panbet, also in High Street, had called them.

Another Newhaven man said: “I heard about the woman having her ear bitten off.

“It is gruesome but I am not surprised. It is the way Newhaven is going.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A 32-year-old woman from Newhaven was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an incident in the town on Saturday.

“Police and ambulance services were called by staff at the Ship Hotel in the High Street after the female victim entered the pub at 10.36pm with a nasty injury to her ear.

“Officers searched the area and found a quantity of blood and a part of the victim’s ear at the side of a betting shop.

“The victim, believed to be in her 40s, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1669 of 05/05.

Danielle Slater, 32, a housekeeper, of Gibbon Road, Newhaven, was charged with GBH with intent and detained to appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court.