A police officer's ear was bitten in Hucknall while trying to help a man following a heated family fall-out.

Officers had been called to a disturbance at an address in Haverhill Crescent, Top Valley, at around after 10pm yesterday (Monday 7 February).

In order to help defuse the situation they agreed to take a man away from the address in their van to another location in Hucknall.

After they arrived in Hucknall an officer arrested the man who was believed to have been spitting in the back of the vehicle.

The suspect was being obstructive and aggressive before he bit the officer's ear during a struggle. Colleagues quickly came to his aid and the officer's welfare is being looked after by the force.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Following enquiries, he was further arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to police cars having their tyres deliberately slashed in Nottingham Road, Daybrook, during the early hours of Thursday (3 February).

Detective Sergeant Dave Prest, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Assaults on police officers and fellow emergency workers are totally unacceptable.

"In this case the officers were trying to help this man by taking him away to another location but in return were met with hostility and violence.

"Emergency service workers work tirelessly every day to keep the public safe and they have the right to go about their duties without being assaulted. This is not just part of the job.

"As the force has repeatedly shown, this type of disgusting behaviour won't be tolerated, and robust action will be taken against anyone who engages in such appalling behaviour.

"It is also totally unacceptable and irresponsible that someone should deliberately damage our police vehicles. It could have prevented officers from responding to an emergency call and potentially saving someone's life or detaining a suspect."