A DOORMAN was left with a broken nose and fractured skull after running to the assistance of colleagues caught up in a street brawl sparked by football “banter”.

Zeto Silva, known by colleagues as Jose, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday after spending the night working on the door of Talk nightclub, in Lucy Road, Southend.

Staff from Chameleon had been dispersing clubbers in Lucy Road at about 3.45am when they came across two groups of men arguing.

The situation turned violent and staff from Talk came to help. Mr Silva was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, where three men kicked and punched him. He was also left with a broken little finger.

Taylor Kaye, a manager at Talk, said the fight took place between customers from Talk and Chameleon outside the Hole-in-the-Wall takeaway.

Mr Kaye said after the attack Mr Silva was rushed to hospital, where he spent a worrying morning “in-and-out-of-consciousness”.

He said: “One of our door supervisors radioed through a code red- that’s for all door staff to attend a situation.

“Not long after, Jose was on the floor where he got kicked and punched. He’s a really nice guy. I went to see him in hospital and he seems in good spirits considering the situation. He said he is half glad it happened to him and not someone else.”

He added: “I believe it started as a bit of banter over football and unfortunately one of the group didn’t like something that was said.”

Chief Insp Scott Cannon, Southend district commander, said it was a “nasty attack” on a man “just trying to do his job”.

All three men are white. One was described as “well-built” with short blond hair and about 5ft 5ins tall, with a tattoo on his neck.

Another was also about 5ft 5ins, clean shaven and with blond hair. A third man was described as “ginger”. At least two of the men removed their shirts during the brawl.

A man, in his 20s, was arrested and released under investigation. Anyone with information should call Southend CID on 101.