An angry driver bit into a woman’s ear “like a dog with a chew toy” when she was told off for blaring her horn at pedestrians, a court heard.

Chloe Hammond, 27, of Denham Vale, Rayleigh, allegedly launched the frenzied attack when Julie Holloway, 56, tapped on the window of her Audi TT near Embankment Pier on March 19.

Ms Holloway is said to have told off Hammond for beeping at pedestrians crossing in front of her while traffic was at a standstill at around 2pm.

When Ms Holloway pointed out that Hammond was using her phone and not watching traffic, Hammond lost her temper and shouted expletives at her, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Moments later, Hammond parked the silver convertible up the road at the junction with Temple Place before making her way back to Ms Holloway and her friends.

She kicked Ms Holloway in the stomach, causing her to double over, then grabbed her hair and bit into her ear, prosecutors claim.

Mobile phone footage played to jurors captured the moment Hammond and Ms Holloway clashed.

Giving evidence behind a screen, Ms Holloway wept as she relived the events of March 19.

She said: ‘’I was in such shock, I could not believe a human being could bite off someone’s ear.

‘’I have had a lot of surgery to repair the damage, I was in hospital for a week because of the infection.

‘’I remember she was screaming at me saying I had smashed her window, she kicked me. She had me by the hair, she bit my ear.’’

After someone recovered the missing chunk of ear in a piece of tissue, Ms Holloway was rushed to St Thomas’ A&E department and eventually required reconstructive surgery to “make the ear look as normal as possible”.

Ms Holloway said she had been on her way to a boat party before the alleged assault.

She confirmed she was in such “shock” she did not initially notice when Hammond escaped.

Hammond denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues at Southwark Crown Court.