DOORMEN were beaten with glasses and bottles during a terrifying attack on a busy city centre pub in Worcester.

A gang of about 15 men beat back bouncers and stormed Lloyds Number 1 Bar in Crown Passage after being refused entry on Saturday night because they were drunk.

Manager Andy Phelps said: "They were very, very vicious.

"The doormen had to get away from these guys because there were too many of them.

"They had to get back in the pub and hit the panic alarms because these guys were forcing their way in.

"They went straight over to one of the doormen and started glassing and bottling him with anything they could get their hands on.

"There were more people outside the pub that the police were holding back with dogs.

"It was awful."

Mr Phelps said the carnage continued when the men stormed into the upstairs bar.

"They were smashing the doors upstairs, throwing furniture against them and ash trays at the staff working in the kitchen," he added.

Two bouncers and four other men had to be taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital following the attack, which happened shortly after 9pm.

Mr Phelps said staff were "very shaken" and all six bouncers were battered and bruised after being attacked with glasses, bottles, and metal posts from a barrier outside.

He said one would be off work for a month because of cuts to his ear and another had a split lip and other facial injuries.

The pub, which was packed with about 500 customers, was closed for rest of the evening.

Mr Phelps said when staff called for help on their radio system, which is supposed to be linked to the city's CCTV control centre, there was no-one there and they had to dial 999.

He said when police arrived they tackled the men, who he was told were on a stag night from Wales, using CS spray.

Mr Phelps praised door staff from other city centre bars who rushed to help.

A total of 20 officers from across Worcestershire attended.

Eight people, believed to be from the south Wales area, were arrested for assault and violent disorder.

They were released on bail without charge while investigations continue.

A police spokesman said the CCTV control centre was manned and operators had called West Mercia.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call police on 08457 444888.