A man who will need surgery to rebuild his face after his nose was broken and his cheekbones fractured in a fight outside a Hitchin town centre bar says he now feels nervous about going out in his home town.

The 46-year-old father of one said: “I have no recollection before the attack. All I know is that I was struck on the head from behind, and something happened on the floor, but I was pretty much knocked out straight away. It happened so quickly and the next thing I knew I woke up in hospital.”

The man, who works in Stevenage, was taken to Lister Hospital after the attack outside The Venue in Bancroft, Hitchin, on Saturday, July 19. He was treated for two fractured eye sockets, fractured cheekbones and multiple injuries to his nose.

He had been out in the town with friends who were visiting from London.

Asked if he knew the alleged offender, he said: “I have met him once before and we’ve had a brief chat back in March.

“I am still in shock and I feel really nervous going out. My local was The Venue but I only go as far as The Victoria now.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I’m taken aback by it. It’s also not something you hear about in Hitchin.”

Emergency services were called at about 3.25am, by which time the bar had closed for the night.

A 29-year-old man from Hitchin has been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been released on bail until August 30.

PC Mike Doe, who is investigating, said: “We are aware there were at least 10 to 15 people nearby when this incident occurred.

“If this was you, please contact me as you may have information which could prove vital to the investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Doe on police non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.