BAR staff rushed to the rescue of a woman who was attacked outside a pub.

She was hit in a brawl on a Dorchester street in which a man is believed to have suffered a broken jaw.

Police were called to the scene outside The Junction pub in Great Western Road just before closing time on Friday night.

Staff said another man stepped in and punched the attacker, who then followed the woman back into the pub.

He was removed from the premises by four of the bar staff and was detained until police arrived.

Kevin Allan, assistant bar manager at The Junction, said the incident was terrifying.

“One of the staff was quite shaken up by it. The man seemed very angry. This is the first incident we’ve had at the pub in a long time.”

The man was in the pub drinking with the woman before the brawl, Mr Allan said.

He added: “We’ve never seen him before, he’s not a regular.

“The man seemed very angry but he didn’t have much chance to cause any trouble because about four of us took him out of the pub.

“When we got him outside he calmed down while we were waiting for the police to arrive.”

Staff praised the efforts of Dorchester police, who arrived within five minutes.

Mr Allan said: “We’d like to thank the police for being so efficient. They arrived very quickly and it was all dealt with very fast.”

Dorset Police said the man was taken to Dorset County Hospital.

Rick Green, vice-chairman of Dorchester Pubwatch, praised the efforts of bar staff.

He said: “From what I hear, the bar staff at The Junction did well.

“Every now and then you’re going to get scuffles – it’s the nature of the business, and I have to say, I think for Dorchester, something like this is rare.

“Dorchester is a really good town and you don’t get much trouble. As a Pubwatch group we’re pretty active in sharing information and messages.”

Mr Green said he didn’t expect to see an increase in drink-related trouble in the county town over the festive season.

“I personally don’t think that drink breeds trouble. I think that trouble follows trouble. Let’s be honest, I don’t think it’s down to alcohol at all.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said officers were alerted at 10.35pm on Friday following reports of an assault.

The spokesman said a man who was taken to hospital and treated for a broken jaw following the incident did not want to press charges so there will be no further police involvement.