A MAN celebrating his 37th birthday was left with a fractured skull after an attack outside a Gwent nightspot.

The man from Caldicot, who has not been named by police, was struck to the floor in a scuffle outside Jimmy Dean's American theme bar in Chepstow.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport where X-rays showed that he had a fractured skull. The man was kept in hospital over the weekend for observation and is now at home recovering.

Gwent Police are calling for witnesses to the incident to come forward. The incident happened outside the bar, which is in Chepstow's Nelson Street, at about 11.20pm on Friday.

Detective Constable Richard Shapland, of Chepstow CID, said: "It was a very nasty attack which left a man with a fractured skull."

Police say the man was struck to the ground and he hit his head on the steps outside the bar. DC Shapland said: "The incident happened outside one of Chepstow's busiest nightspots as people were leaving the pub so someone must have seen this attack." He urged those people to contact them.

Witnesses, who can remain anonymous, can call Chepstow police station on 01291 623993.