A POLICEMAN who was viciously punched and kicked by up to 20 people outside a Suffolk pub has returned to work as his colleagues continue their hunt for the ringleaders of the gang.

A POLICEMAN who was viciously punched and kicked by up to 20 people outside a Suffolk pub has returned to work as his colleagues continue their hunt for the ringleaders of the gang.

The 38-year-old constable, who has not been named, suffered cuts and bruises to his head and legs when he was set upon after he was called to a disturbance at The Flintknappers in Brandon town centre.

He was attacked on Thursday night by the gang of between 15 and 20 people as he tried to calm one man down.

A spokesman for Suffolk police yesterday said the officer managed to continue his shift on the night of the incident despite his injuries from the "nasty" attack at the hands of the gang.

He staid: "He carried on working and was then off for four rest days which had been previously planned. He was back on duty as normal yesterday (Tuesday)."

Peter Otoka, landlord at the Flintknappers, said he was appalled by the attack on the policeman.

He said the ringleaders of the assault had been banned from the pub a week earlier for causing trouble and he believed they had returned to antagonise staff.

Mr Otoka said the police were contacted and the officer who was attacked by the gang was on the scene within minutes: "As he tried to calm the situation it turned into this scuffle. Several people went to assist him and it was all over very quickly."

The landlord stressed he would not tolerate violence in his pub: "Anyone behaving in a violent way in this pub won't be allowed back – that's the hard and fast rule. We're working closely with the police and we are particularly tough on violence, drugs and underage drinking.

"We do our best to get rid of troublemakers, which is exactly what we were doing a week earlier, but on this occasion they returned intent on making our lives miserable."

The police spokesman appealed for anyone with information about the incident, which happened at around 11.30pm, to come forward.

He stressed: "We would appeal for the help of the public in assisting us with our inquiries and for them to contact us if they have any information.

"The officer…was pushed to the floor and received kicks and punches from a number of individuals in the group."

Anyone with information should contact Pc Keith Grant on 01284 774053.