POLICE have confirmed that a gang of four men were involved in an "isolated incident" after a man was seen to be attacked and beaten outside a village pub.
Armed officers and the force helicopter were deployed to Middleton St George, near Darlington, after police were called at around 2.35pm on Thursday.
An investigation has been launched into the incident after a police cordon was set up on Sadberge Road, near the Platform 1 pub.
An eyewitness who works in the pub told The Northern Echo: “A car pulled up and three other cars then surrounded it.
“There must have been about ten men and they just started beating the guy with sticks.
“The three cars drove off after and I think his [the victim’s] girlfriend then came to pick him up. He looked in a bad way.”
She said the pub remained open.
A siler Ford Focus with a damaged windscreen could be seen within the cordon.
Another villager, who did not want to be named, said she feared the man had been killed such was the severity of the attack on him.
The villager said: “It’s a nasty business. I just hope the man involved is ok.”
A member of staff in the Durham Police control room confirmed police were engaged in an ongoing investigation, but the force would not release any further details at the present time.
A Durham Police spokesman said: “Police were called to reports of a disturbance involving a group of four men in Middleton St George on Thursday.
“There is an ongoing investigation into the incident and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 265 of August 24.”
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