A gang wrecked an Oxford pub and put a member of staff in hospital after a row over alleged drug-taking.

The violence at The Chequers pub in Headington Quarry was followed by a fight an hour later at The Cavalier pub in Marston. Two policemen were injured, including one who sustained a broken hand.

The Headington fight erupted after Gordon Matthews, fianc of licensee Tracey Fowler, spotted one of the gang allegedly taking cocaine in the pub toilets on Sunday night.

He told the man to leave. As the man was led to the door, one of his friends punched Mr Matthews in the face.

Mr Matthews, 32, was thrown across the pool table and ended up on the floor, where three of the gang joined the attack. Blows rained down on his head and body before Miss Fowler and pub regulars managed to separate them.

He passed out and was taken to the intensive care unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where he remained until yesterday morning.

Two other people also needed hospital treatment for cuts. Up to 40 people are believed to have been involved in the fight as customers and staff tried to get the gang out. Pool cues were broken and bar fittings ripped out.

The gang, described as travellers, were eventually forced outside, but then used a board and umbrellas to smash the front windows.

Miss Fowler, who only took over the pub last month and was hit with a bottle during the attack, said: "Afterwards I went through every emotion under the sun, but now I am just angry.

"We have only been here six weeks and we have been working hard to get customers back in and trade was starting to go back up.

"As the licensee, you feel guilty and wonder if there was anything else you could have done."

Mr Matthews said: "They kicked the living daylights out of me and I just curled up. It must have lasted three or four minutes. Next thing I knew, I was at the hospital.

"They said I was lucky not to have broken ribs, but I have bruised my spine."

The Chequers was closed yesterday but was expected to reopen this evening.

In the Cavalier incident, police were called to the Copse Lane pub at 11pm to deal with ten travellers who were fighting among themselves. Three men, two aged 20 and one 27, who made off in a car, were pursued by police and arrested.

Oxford police have appealed for witnesses to both fights to contact them on 01865 266333 or anonymously via the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.

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