A BRAWL in a pub garden left one man with stab wounds and a woman with severe facial injuries.

Police have said a fight between women broke out in the beer garden of the Cottage Loaf, in Jessel Drive, Loughton on Wednesday (July 21) at about 6.30pm.

The fight escalated to involve both men and women and a 21-year-old man from the Romford area received stab wounds. He was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, where he was treated and released the next day.

A 48-year-old woman from Loughton remains in Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, with severe facial wounds.

Tina Carlyon of Mowbrey Gardens, Loughton, witnessed the fight as she was driving back home for the day.

She said: “We were just coming into my turning when we looked up and saw a bloke holding a lady down. He jumped up, and she sat up and she was covered in blood. I heard a story later on a knife was involved.

“The police were there until about 9.30pm. There were a lot of teenagers and children watching from the bank.”

Three women aged 46, 37 and 21 from Loughton were arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed to July 29, July 28 and August 20 respectively.

Two men, a 16-year-old from Loughton, and a 44-year-old from Harlow, were arrested on suspicion of GBH with intent. The 16-year-old has been released on police bail and the 44-year-old man is currently in police custody.

Anyone with information on the incident should contact police on 0300 333 4444.