A man had his ear bitten off after being attacked in a pub toilet.

The 62-year-old man was set upon shortly before closing time at the Three Horses, Fell Lane, on Wednesday evening.

He was taken to Airedale Hospital, where yesterday he was undergoing surgery. It was not clear if the ear could be re-attached.

Det Insp Christopher Moorehouse said: "This was a very violent incident and the man, as you can imagine, was extremely shocked.

"We are still not sure at this stage about the motive for the attack.

"This elderly gentleman was set upon by a much younger man, who bit the ear clean off. Some considerable force must have been exerted."

Jimmy Duffy, licensee at the Three Horses, said yesterday that everyone at the pub was deeply upset by the incident.

He said: "I have been here nearly two years and there has never been any bother.

"It is a nice family pub with a good atmosphere and you just do not associate it with this kind of incident.

"The victim is a regular customer and a well liked and respected man locally. We are all very shocked."

A local man in his 20s was arrested at the scene, and was being questioned at Keighley police station as the Keighley News went to press.