TWO Newport brothers are facing prison sentences after an attack on an Englishman following a remark about leeks while they were in Scotland for their father's funeral.

Charles Morgan, 47, of Playford Crescent and Derek Morgan, 45, of Halle Close, Ringland, attacked Newcastle builder Allan Collins in Inverness last April.

A court in Scotland heard that 45-year-old Mr Collins was close to death after losing large amounts of blood following the attack.

Charles Morgan's son, Carl, 29, was also involved in the attack which took place after comments were exchanged in a Chinese takeaway, the court heard.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Derek Morgan was overheard saying: "It is a lovely part of the country up here.

"The only trouble is you have to get through England." Mr Collins described the remark as "daft and petty" and told Mr Morgan it was "stupid, coming from anybody who worships a leek."

He said that outside the takeaway he was confronted by the Morgans who attacked him.

The court heard that Charles Morgan was seen stamping on Mr Collins, while both Carl and Derek Morgan punched him repeatedly.

The Morgans had been in the Highlands for the funeral of the father of Charles and Derek Morgan, which was earlier in the day.

Charles Morgan denied assault and Derek Morgan denied racially aggravated assault but theywere convicted after a trial. Carl Morgan pleaded guilty to a charge of assault.

The victim underwent em-ergency surgery at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, to repair a ruptured vein after losing two and a half pints of blood.

Consultant surgeon John Duncan said the Englishman lost half his blood volume by the time he was operated on.

Mr Duncan said: "In my 25 years as a surgeon I have only seen three patients with this particular injury."

Sentence on all three Morgans was deferred. They were released on bail.