Pub staff find man with severed hand

Staff found bloodstains before finding the injured man

A man was found with a severed hand as staff were locking up pub at closing time.

The victim was said to have been found in a distressed state in the The Stanley Arms, Huyton, near Liverpool at about 00:20 BST on Saturday after staff spotted blood stains on the carpet.

The emergency services were called and the man was taken to hospital for surgery.

Merseyside Police said an 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and wounding with intent.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "Emergency services were called to reports of an 18-year-old male entering the premises with a serious injury to his arm, believed to have been sustained at a party in a nearby address.

"The male has been taken to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition. A 17-year-old female sustained a minor hand injury."

Officers were carrying out CCTV, forensic and house-to-house enquiries, the spokesman added.

'Upsetting'

Det Insp Graeme Osborne said: "This was an assault with a bladed weapon, which has left the victim in hospital for treatment of a serious and potentially life-changing injury.

"Some of those people present may have seen or heard what happened, and indeed know who was involved.

"To have seen this assault will undoubtedly have been upsetting, but we need to gather all information possible, which includes witness accounts, CCTV, or any other footage or images from those present, living or passing nearby."

A spokesman for brewery Mitchells & Butlers, which operates the pub, said: "Our team were called on to help a local member of the community who came into our venue after closing time seeking help for a serious injury.

"Emergency services were called and the individual received treatment."