A MAN has been charged with attempted murder after a machete attack in a town centre pub that left a 57-year-old in hospital.

John Howard

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder after a machete attack in a town centre pub that left a 57-year-old in hospital.

The man, who has not been named at this stage but is understood to also be in his fifties, is expected to appear before magistrates in Ipswich this morning.

Police confirmed yesterday that he has been charged with attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It follows an attack in The Grinning Rat pub in St Helen's Street, Ipswich, on Friday night .

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 10.20pm following calls that a man had been injured after being hit with a machete.

A crew from the East of England Ambulance Service rushed him to Ipswich Hospital and he was admitted with a deep cut to his head - although his injuries were not life-threatening.

Landlord Trevor Whinney, who was not at the pub when the incident happened, said the attack has left people shocked.

“It's a horrible thing to happen,” he said. “Everyone is shocked about it. It is a nice pub with nice people. It could have happened anywhere, but unfortunately it happened here.”

As it was a busy Friday night in the town centre, dozens of officers were able to reach the scene quickly and deal with the incident.

Several revellers were around the area at the time and police say they have spoken to some witnesses.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said they were initially called to The Grinning Rat following reports of a stabbing.

He said it was originally thought the incident was more serious since there were reports the victim had suffered an open fracture to his skull.

However when the paramedics arrived they found him in a stable condition and were able to convey him to hospital, he added.