A 36-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of biting off part of a landlord's ear in a horror pub attack.

Raymond Ormerod was found not guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and also the lesser allegation of unlawful wounding, after a three-day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The defendant, of Station Road, Padiham, who denied the charges, was discharged from the dock by Judge Barbara Watson.

The jury had heard claims that Ormerod sank his teeth into Martin Sanderson, licensee of the The Free Gardeners in Padiham, after he was told it was impossible to get him a taxi.

Mr Sanderson had alleged the defendant dived towards him and he had ended up on the floor with Ormerod on his back.

The landlord claimed the defendant then carried out a "continuous gnawing," bite, at the same time growling like an animal. Mr Sanderson said he felt intense pain and the alleged assault seemed to go on forever.

He told the court he was in shock and then saw Ormerod jumping up and down like a football supporter celebrating a goal.

Mr Sanderson was bleeding profusely and was taken to Burnley General Hospital. The missing piece of his ear was found and the ambulancemen took it with them in an ice bucket, but medics were unable to restore it because of the risk of infection.

Ormerod's counsel, Philip Cattan, claimed the defendant went towards the alleged victim and Mr Sanderson hit him in the left eye. Ormerod then punched the complainant in the stomach and the two of them went to the floor and started grappling.

Mr Cattan suggested that although Mr Sanderson was injured, it was not the defendant who did it. The barrister said Mr Sanderson was summising that because they fell to the floor together.