A LOCAL footballer had an ear bitten off by a club rival in a fight outside a pub.

Landscape gardener Richard Price was left disfigured after surgeons failed to sew it back on, Worcester Crown Court was told

He alleged that his attacker, Lloyd Burford, picked up the severed left ear from the gutter and threw it at him shouting: "Here's your f***ing ear. I'm going to kill you."

Tragically, Mr Price died in a road accident after the injury, but his evidence to police was read to the jury by Kevin Heggarty, prosecuting.

Mr Price had described how he was twice asked outside for a fight as he sat with a group of friends inside Hoolahan's in Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, on May 12 last year.

He refused an offer by bouncers to leave by a back door and claimed he was suddenly set upon by 27-year-old Burford as he left the front entrance.

In a statement, he said they began grappling before he felt a sharp pain in his left ear.

''I shouted you're on my ear, but he took no notice and kept on biting,'' he said. ''Burford pulled away from me and I felt blood coming out of the side of my head.''

Mr Price said he began trying to find his severed ear, then alleged that Burford threw it at him

Mr Price told police he knew Burford from local football. They were both strong competitors from different teams who liked to win.

He was left permanently scarred, causing a great deal of trauma for him and his family.

Mr Price added: ''It was totally unprovoked. I can't think of any reason why anyone would want to bite my ear off.''

Burford, of Millfield Road, Bromsgrove, denies wounding Mr Price with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

The jury was told he had admitted a second charge of unlawfully wounding Mr Price.

Mr Heggarty said words were exchanged at the pub between two rival groups before the violence erupted.

Afterwards, Mr Price ran off in extreme pain, fearing he would be injured further. He was operated on for several hours, but although his ear was recovered and put into a pint glass surrounded by ice, it could not be reattached.

Burford claimed to police that he sank his teeth into the ear after Mr Price took hold of his head.

The trial continues.