A COUPLE were badly beaten up in a seemingly unprovoked attack which began outside a Worcester pub.

The woman was having a cigarette outside the Bush Inn in St John’s when she was assaulted by two men.

Her partner – understood to be a doorman who practises martial arts – gave chase, but was robbed and badly beaten himself.

The couple needed treatment at Worcestershire Royal Hospital for serious head and facial injuries.

The attack happened between 11pm and 11.30pm on Saturday.

West Mercia Police is appealing for help to catch the culprits. Pub landlord Anthony Hayward and customer Liza Bicknell cared for the couple – named locally as Jan and Steve.

Mr Hayward came out of the pub to find the woman, thought to be in her 50s, lying on the pavement.

Her partner, who is understood to be a doorman but does not work at the pub, staggered back to the pub after chasing the attackers towards Cripplegate Park.

Mr Hayward said: “Steve chased after them and he was gone about 10 minutes.

"When he came back through the door it was quite a bit of a shock to see the state he was in. He’s a big lad and he was covered in blood. He was staggering.

“There were six of them and only one of him. I believe they stole his mobile phone and his wallet.

“Most of the injuries were to his face and he was bleeding. We took him into the back room and cleaned him up and I called the paramedics, who were there within two minutes.

“The guy was worse off but she had facial injuries as well and a fractured cheekbone. I think he had a fractured nose.”

Mr Hayward said the attackers were not his customers.

Journalism student Liza Bicknell, aged 21, said Jan had a black eye which was so swollen she could not open it and the back of her head and mouth were bleeding.

She added: “She was crying blood. When Steve came back his whole head was smashed in.

His face was purple and there was a hole in his forehead.”

Miss Bicknell helped treat the pair before the paramedics arrived.

Det Con Will Brimmell described it as a “serious assault” which had left the couple very shocked and shaken.

"It was a seemingly unprovoked attack on a couple out enjoying themselves on a Saturday night,” he said.

“Such an assault is an uncommon event in the city and I would, therefore, urge anyone who has any information on the men responsible, or who saw either of the assaults take place, to contact police immediately.”

The men are both thought to be in their 20s but no further descriptions are available at this time.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police immediately on 0300 333 3000, quoting 823/S/1604, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.